Antwerp hands are a traditional regional delicacy from

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

, crafted in the shape of a hand. This distinctive shape harks back to the legend of the giant

Druon Antigoon Druon Antigoon or Druon Antigonus is a Folklore of the Low Countries, Belgian folkloric character. He was a mythical giant (mythology), giant who lived in Antwerp. Guarding a bridge on the Scheldt, river Scheldt, he exacted a toll from those cr ...

, who severed the hands of boatmen who refused to pay his toll. The giant was eventually slain by the hero Silvius Brabo, who then tossed Antigoon's hand into the River

Scheldt The Scheldt ( ; ; ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of Netherlands, the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to Old Englis ...

. The concept for these hand-shaped treats originated from a competition organized by the Royal Association of Master Pastry Chefs of Antwerp. In 1934, Jos Hakker, a Jewish pastry chef from Amsterdam, won the contest with his creation: a buttery, almond-flaked biscuit in the form of a hand, made from butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and flaked almonds. The unique shape, ingredients, and packaging of these biscuits are now protected by a patent owned by the Syndicale Unie voor Brood-, Pastry, Chocolate and Ice Cream Industry VZW. Beyond biscuits, there are also chocolate versions of Antwerp hands. Initially crafted without filling by chocolatier Goossens, since 1982, these chocolates have evolved to include variants filled with marzipan and Elixir d'Anvers, as well as praline-filled versions.

References

Culture in Antwerp Belgian cuisine Chocolate Cookies Antwerp {{Food-stub