Antwerp history

The history of Antwerp is a fascinating narrative of how a small settlement on the River Scheldt transformed into one of Europe's most important metropolises. Legends, trade, and art have interwoven here to form a unified whole, shaping the city's unique character.

Origins and the City's Name

A popular legend states that the city's name comes from the Dutch words "hand werpen", which means "to throw a hand". According to the tale, a giant named Antigoon lived on the riverbank and demanded a toll from sailors; he would cut off the hands of those who refused to pay. The hero Silvius Brabo defeated the giant, cut off his hand, and threw it into the Scheldt. This story is immortalised in the fountain on the central Grote Markt square.

Historically, the first settlements in this area appeared as early as the 2nd–3rd centuries AD. The first written mentions of Antwerp date back to the 7th century, and by the 9th century, the city was already a notable trading centre, although it was destroyed by the Normans in 836. The modern city began to take shape around a fortress built in the 10th century.

Key Factors of Development

Antwerp owes its growth and prosperity to several key factors:

• Geographical Location: Its position on the navigable river Scheldt, approximately 80-90 km from the North Sea, gave the city direct access to maritime trade routes, making it an ideal port.
• Trade and Finance: Starting from the 15th century, Antwerp overtook Bruges as the region's economic hub. Its "Golden Age" occurred in the 16th century when the city became one of the largest in Europe. In 1531, the world's first stock exchange opened here, becoming a model for similar institutions in London and Amsterdam.
• Political Influence: Becoming part of the powerful Duchy of Brabant, and later passing under the rule of the House of Burgundy and the Spanish Habsburgs, facilitated the influx of capital and the development of international ties.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Even in the early period of its history, Antwerp established itself as a multifaceted centre, known for more than just trade:

• Art: In the 16th century, the city became a magnet for artists, forming the famous Antwerp School of painting. Later, in the 17th century, great masters of Flemish Baroque such as Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, and Jacob Jordaens created their masterpieces here.
• Printing: The city was home to the famous Plantin-Moretus dynasty of publishers, whose printing house became one of the largest and most influential in Europe.
• Diamond Processing: Antwerp began developing the processing and trading of diamonds as early as the late 15th century, laying the foundation for its future reputation as the "Diamond Capital of the World".

Chronology of Key Events

The history of Antwerp is filled with rises and falls, from the status of Europe's wealthiest city to near-total decline and subsequent revival. Here are several key dates that shaped its destiny.

• ~700 AD — First written mention of a settlement named Andoverpis.
• 836 — The city was destroyed during Norman raids.
• 1352 — Construction began on the Cathedral of Our Lady, one of the greatest Gothic cathedrals in Europe.
• 1531 — The world's first stock exchange opened in Antwerp, marking the beginning of its "Golden Age".
• 1576 — The "Spanish Fury" occurred: mutinous Spanish soldiers looted and burned the flourishing city.
• 1585 — After a long siege, the city fell to the Spanish army, leading to a mass exodus of Protestants and artisans to the north.
• 1648 — The Treaty of Münster officially closed the Scheldt estuary to navigation, cutting Antwerp off from the sea and beginning its long economic decline.
• 1803 — Napoleon Bonaparte began massive works to turn Antwerp into a powerful military port, reopening it to navigation.
• 1832 — During the Belgian Revolution, French troops besieged and captured the citadel, securing Antwerp's inclusion in independent Belgium.
• 1863 — Belgium bought out the right of free passage on the Scheldt from the Netherlands, giving a powerful boost to the city's new economic revival.
• 1920 — Antwerp hosted the VII Summer Olympic Games, demonstrating its recovery after the First World War.
• 1944 — The city was liberated by Allied forces, but its port became a primary target for German V-1 and V-2 rocket attacks.
• 1993 — Antwerp was elected the Cultural Capital of Europe, confirming its status as an important centre of art and design.

Major Milestones in Antwerp's Development

Antwerp's history is a journey from a medieval trading post to one of Europe's key cultural and economic hubs. The city has experienced periods of incredible prosperity, deep decline, and impressive revival, each leaving its mark on the local architecture, economy, and culture.

• The "Golden Age" (16th Century): During this period, Antwerp became the wealthiest city in Europe. The opening of the world's first stock exchange in 1531 turned it into a global financial and trading hub. The port received hundreds of ships, and the city attracted merchants, bankers, and artists from all over the world.
• Decline after the "Spanish Fury" (Late 16th–18th Centuries): The looting of the city by Spanish soldiers in 1576 and the subsequent blockade of the Scheldt estuary in 1585 led to a mass exodus of Protestants, artisans, and intellectuals to the north, primarily to Amsterdam. This marked the beginning of a long economic downturn.
• Revival under Napoleon (Early 19th Century): Napoleon Bonaparte saw Antwerp as a strategic military port, a "pistol pointed at the heart of England". He ordered the construction of new docks (including the Bonaparte Dock), which effectively reopened the city to navigation and laid the foundation for the port's future growth.
• Industrial Boom and Liberation of the Scheldt (1863): Belgium's purchase of the right to free passage on the Scheldt from the Netherlands was a turning point. This gave a powerful impulse to trade and industry, leading to a massive expansion of port infrastructure and a new economic flourishing.
• 1920 Olympic Games: Hosting the VII Summer Olympic Games became a symbol of Antwerp's recovery after World War I. This event attracted international attention and contributed to the modernisation of urban infrastructure.
• World Diamond Capital (20th Century): Although the diamond trade began in the city centuries earlier, it was in the 20th century that Antwerp firmly secured its status as the undisputed global centre for diamond processing and trading. Over 80% of the world's rough diamonds pass through the city.
• Capital of Fashion and Design (Late 20th Century): The emergence of the "Antwerp Six" — a group of avant-garde fashion designers, graduates of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts — turned the city into one of the world's fashion capitals. The title of European Capital of Culture in 1993 only strengthened this new status, shifting the focus from industry to creativity and design.

Antwerp's architectural appearance is a living chronicle of its rich history, where every district and building tells of different eras: from medieval prosperity to avant-garde modern solutions. A walk through the city turns into a fascinating journey through time, allowing you to trace how styles and entire neighbourhoods have changed.

The Middle Ages and Gothic

The foundation of Antwerp's historic centre is its medieval layout with narrow streets converging on the main square, the Grote Markt. The dominant feature of this era is the magnificent Cathedral of Our Lady, construction of which began in 1352. Its intricate 123-metre northern tower in the Flamboyant Gothic style is visible from any point in the city and is one of its main symbols. The guild houses on the central square, although rebuilt later, retain the spirit of the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, forming a unique ensemble.

Renaissance and Opulent Baroque

Antwerp's "Golden Age" in the 16th–17th centuries left behind a rich legacy. The City Hall (1561-1565) on the Grote Markt is one of the first examples of Northern Renaissance architecture, combining Italian and Flemish traditions. However, the city's true triumph was the Baroque style, inextricably linked with the name of Peter Paul Rubens. His house and studio (Rubenshuis) and the Church of St. Charles Borromeo, which he designed, are benchmarks of this lush and dramatic style. Many churches and residential houses were adorned with luxurious decor during this period, reflecting the city's wealth and influence.

From Classicism to Art Nouveau

In the 19th century, after the port was reopened by Napoleon, the city experienced a rebirth. During this period, majestic buildings in Neoclassical and eclectic styles were constructed. The most striking example is the monumental Central Station, often called the "Railway Cathedral" for its lavish interior with a huge dome. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Art Nouveau flourished in Antwerp, especially in the Zurenborg district, where on Cogels-Osylei street you can see unique mansions with whimsical facades, floral ornaments, and mosaics.

Modern Architecture

Modern Antwerp boldly experiments with forms, harmoniously integrating new objects into the historical context. Iconic structures of the 21st century include:

• Museum by the River (MAS) — a building made of red sandstone and glass, resembling a giant construction set, from the terrace of which opens a panoramic view of the city and port.
• Port House (Havenhuis) — a futuristic building designed by architect Zaha Hadid, representing a glass crystal in the shape of a ship or a diamond, "hovering" over an old fire station. This object has become a symbol of Antwerp's innovative spirit and its unbreakable link with the port.
• Law Courts designed by Richard Rogers, with its recognisable "sails" on the roof.

These bold projects demonstrate that Antwerp is a city that not only carefully preserves its past but also looks confidently into the future.

Famous Personalities of Antwerp

Antwerp has given the world a whole galaxy of outstanding artists, thinkers, scientists, and innovators whose names are forever inscribed in world history. They shaped the cultural and intellectual landscape not only of their city but of all Europe.

Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640)

Role: artist, diplomat.
Significance: the greatest master of Flemish Baroque, whose name is inextricably linked with Antwerp. Rubens was not only a brilliant painter but also an educated humanist and successful diplomat. His dynamic, full-of-life canvases defined the development of painting for centuries to come, and his house and studio (Rubenshuis) remains one of the city's main museums today.

Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641)

Role: portrait painter.
Significance: the most talented and famous pupil of Rubens, renowned as an unsurpassed master of aristocratic portraiture. He revolutionised this genre, bringing psychological depth and elegance to it. Van Dyck spent most of his career at the English court, becoming the principal court painter to King Charles I and exerting immense influence on the British school of painting.

Jacob Jordaens (1593–1678)

Role: artist.
Significance: one of the three pillars of the Antwerp School of painting in the 17th century, alongside Rubens and van Dyck. Unlike them, Jordaens never left his hometown for long. He is known for his large-scale canvases on mythological, religious, and everyday subjects, which are distinguished by vitality, rich colours, and robust folk humour.

Christophe Plantin (c. 1520–1589)

Role: publisher, printer.
Significance: founder of one of the most influential printing houses in 16th-century Europe — Officina Plantiniana. His publishing house produced essential scientific, humanistic, and religious works, including the famous multilingual "Polyglot Bible". Plantin's activities turned Antwerp into a leading centre of European printing and enlightenment. Today, his printing house is a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598)

Role: cartographer, geographer.
Significance: creator of the world's first modern geographical atlas — Theatrum Orbis Terrarum ("Theatre of the World"). This work, first published in Antwerp in 1570, systematised all geographical maps known at that time, becoming a true cartographic revolution and one of the bestsellers of the 16th century.

The Antwerp Six

Role: group of fashion designers.
Significance: a collective of graduates from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts who revolutionised the fashion world in the mid-1980s. The group included Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs, and Marina Yee. Their bold, avant-garde, and deconstructivist approach to design attracted international attention and secured Antwerp's status as one of the world's fashion capitals.