During the 1980s, in order to improve the efficiency of the judicial offices in the city of Antwerp, the Ministry of Justice took a decision to centralize them. In the year 1990, the site of a former railway station called the Zuidstation, which was razed over 25 years ago, was selected as the home for the New Palace of Justice. The design submitted by Richard Rogers firm was approved in 1999 and construction began in 2001.

The New Palace consists of 6 large courthouses and 26 other smaller courts. Each of the large courts has a large sail-like roof made of interconnected quadrants. Six long wings spread out of the Central Hall called, the Bolivarplaats which has a vast glass roof, a symbol of the transparency of the judicial system. The butterfly-like wings house different offices and courts and have smaller scaled roofs. Glass has been used extensively for this structure, which allows plenty of natural light into the building. Also, the complex uses natural ventilation, heat restricting measures and collects rainwater for watering its gardens making it the city’s first environment friendly building. Irrespective of its achievements in terms of architecture, the building is just five stories tall and does not even attempt to disparage its neighbors.

Located in the Zuid District of Antwerp is one of the most splendid buildings of the city, the Royal Museum of Fine Art. Home to a grand collection of some of the finest works of Flemish painters, if you love visiting Museum, this one should definitely make it to your list of places worth seeing in Antwerp.

Home to the finest collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings and other forms of art, from the Flemish Golden Era, the Museum exhibits artists like Boetius à Bolswert, Frans Floris, Jan Van Eyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Quentin Matsys, Erasmus Quellinus II, and Appelmans.

Apart from the fact that the Royal Museum is homes some of the most valuable paintings of the region, the building itself is well worth the attention and time. Designed and built by Antwerp architects, Jacob Winders and Frans van Dijk, the Royal Museum was actually designed to replace a previous Museum that was razed by fire.
Great efforts were made for the new museum to stand at par with the one that previously stood and it took a good six years till the city of Antwerp got its Royal Museum. Built with respect to the Neo- Classic style of Architecture, the Museum till date is considered one of the best looking buildings in the city.

De Boerentoren, meaning Farmer’s Tower, was the first sky scraper to be built in Europe. Inspired by sky scrapers in New York and Chicago, De Boerentoren was built on a site that was bombed during the First World War, as part of preparations for Antwerp World Exhibition of 1930. Completed in just three years between 1929 and 1932, the original building stood at 87.5 meters.

Designed by Jan Van Hoenacker, this art-deco styled building was constructed to house offices and residences along with cafés and also had a Beer Hall. In 1954, the building height was raised to 112.5 meters with the addition of an antenna. It remained Belgium’s tallest building till 1967 when the city council discussed the possibility of destroying the structure. However, these plans were dropped and restoration of the building was taken up in 1970. The apartments and other amenities were removed and the building was reserved for office use only. In 1981, the building was declared a protected monument. Currently, it is home to the KBC, the largest bank of Flanders district, which also gives the tower its official name, the KBC Tower.

Tourist legend has it that you can see the Atomium in Brussels from the roof of this building. We leave it for you to find out whether it’s a myth or fact, when you visit the KBC Tower in Antwerp.

Overlooking the city of Antwerp since the 14th century is the beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady, which till date dominates the city’s skyline. Built by architects Jan and Pieter Appelmans, the Cathedral boasts a magnificent Gothic structure with hints of Baroque style complementing the interiors of the building.

Whether you are a history buff or an admirer of buildings and structures, the Cathedral of Our Lady is one structure that has something to offer its every visitor. The structure stands as the epitome of the perfect combination of artistic architecture, breathtaking interiors and a dramatic past making it a tantalizing site to visit.

Although the construction of the structure began in 1352, it took more than a century to complete the entire construction. The Cathedral that stands today rests on the same site where once stood a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady, dating back to the early 10th century which was subsequently followed by the construction of a Romanesque Church. The Gothic Cathedral that took its place was considered one of the most magnificent structures of its time and one of the largest cathedrals in the whole of Benelux. However despite all its glories, the Cathedral of Our Lady has faced a very turbulent past. From natural fires to raids, plunders and assault by iconoclasts, the structure has born tremendous damage over the years. It has stood the test of time and stands proudly in the city of Antwerp.

The Silvius Brabo statue is located at Oude Beurs 4 in the city of Antwerp and stands right in front of the Antwerp City Hall. The statue is the result of the mythological story that is believed to give the city its name.

Legend has it that a giant named Druon Antigoon lived near the bridge over the river Scheldt. The giant would forcibly charge the people for using the bridge or else would cut off hands of people who either could not or refused to pay him. According to the story, Silvius Brabo was a Roman soldier who came to the city. Antigoon’s restrictions over using the bridge on the Scheldt were hurting the city’s business and therefore, Brabo decided to bring an end to Antigoon’s tyranny. Brabo killed Antigoon and as a fitting reply to his oppression, tossed the giant’s hand into the river. The statue in front of the City Hall captures the moment when the brave Brabo was about to throw away the giant’s hand. The name Antwerp is corruption of ‘An twerp’ or hand throwing committed by Brabo. The term ‘Brabant’ is also believed to have originated with Brabo.

You can enjoy the statue while relishing a coffee on one of the café terraces located in the area.

Antwerp is definitely the historians’ paradise, with each building and monument having its own tale and its slice of history to share with one and all, the Het Steen is one of them.

Antwerp is Europe’s second largest seaports and through the years this has played a very critical role in the history of the city. Where at one hand Antwerp enjoyed the benefits of the sea with trade and commerce, the open blue water and its vulnerable position also attracted Vikings and other plunderers along the years.

One of the oldest structures in Antwerp is the Het Steen, a castle which was once a part of a long wall of fortification around the city of Antwerp.

The Het Steen is speculated to have been around since 650 AD, when the structure was only made up of clay and mud. It was however not until the 9th century that the city got its first fortified walls built of tough stone and mud protecting the interiors from the Viking plunderers. And hence crediting Otto 1, during whose reign the walls were fortified, for establishing the city of Antwerp.
From serving as a military protection to a prison and finally a museum, the Het Steen has changed its role in time.

The Port of Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 kilometers inland. Its location makes it a more central location in Europe than the majority of North Sea ports. The Port of Antwerp has become one of Europe's largest seaports, behind Rotterdam in total freight shipped.

Known for its lush and ornate architecture, spectacular interiors, its ambitious rivalry and not to forget the final resting place of much loved Flemish painter P.P.Rubens, the St. James’ Church is a must see in Antwerp.

Probably one of the most visited churches in city, the Saint James’ Church or the St. Jacobskerk attracts tourists from all over the world. The site where the Church now stands was first home to a humble chapel that was en route the burial place of Apostle Jacob also known as James. A larger more prominent structure was later designed to take over the modest chapel. Built over a century, the construction on the structure commenced in the year of 1491 but was not completed until 1656. Financed by high class merchants and noble men, a tower measuring a height of 150m was designed for the Church. This was to compete with the already existent 123m tower that donned on the Cathedral of Our Lady. However, due to the fall in financial conditions, the ambitious tower could never be completed.

Fortunately, the interiors of the Church still stand as proof to the lavish expenses made for the structure. Sumptuously filled with ornate Baroque decorations and design, the interiors of St. James are spell binding.

Antwerp is the perfect blend of old and the new. Where the skyline displays a wide array of contemporary, modern age architecture, you have bouts of antiquity that burst out occasionally adding a unique touch to the city. Although much of it is a resultant of a rich and vibrant past, the good work done behind maintaining these structures has to be credited to the Antwerp city officials and authority. The city has made a great effort in conserving the original structure of many buildings and come up with a way to use them till today, whether it is the St. Anna Tunnel that connects the banks of the river Scheldt or the Antwerpen Centraal.

One of the world’s most impressive looking Railway stations, the mighty Antwerpen Centraal makes its presence felt in the heart of the city of Antwerp. Voted the world’s fourth best railway station, the Antwerpen Centraal is looked upon as the finest examples of railway architecture in Belgium. Built between 1895 and 1905, the Centraal still plays a vital role in connecting the various parts of state and functions with 14 railways tracts at four different levels or terminals. With architecture unlike any other, historians till date have a tough time categorizing the design of the Antwerp Centraal to one particular style. So, we recommend visiting the Station and defining it in your own way.

Established in 1843, the Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world and is home to the Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC) along with the many animals and their various exhibits. Open all seven days of the week, the Zoo is located right next to Antwerp Centraal Railway Station at the Astrid Square.

The Zoo that started off in a small area of about 4 acres occupies over 26 acres of land today and is home to almost 950 different species of animals. From penguins to sea lions, from zebras to macaws and toucans and from commonly occurring apes to the near threatened okapis, the Zoo has them all. For some period, the Zoo also housed dolphins but the infrastructure demands could not be accommodated by a Zoo that was right in the center of the city.

From its inception, the Zoo has promoted wildlife preservation and through its recreational and educational exhibits pitches the importance of conservation to its 1.5 million visitors every year. The Zoo participates in the European Endangered Species Programme and has helped in the breeding of okapis, peafowls, tamarins and otters to name a few.

The Antwerp Zoo deserves at least half a day’s attention and once you are there, we are sure you will stay for more. But do not forget to pick up the schedule of the feeding times for these natural wonders at the entrance to see them interact with the Zoo staff.