Show beginning of antwerp antwerp it Is said takes its name from a castle which in prankish frankish times marked the site bite of the city this castle was built to protect the entrance of tho the and to prevent foreign traders introducing goods into the country without paying toll to the sovereign lord the penalty for theft and smuggling was in those days the cutting of of a hand and as in this case the severed members were thrown into the the castle came to be known as or in flemish antwerpen the place of hand throwing the castle and two severed hands bands appear on the city arms to this day |