De Boerentoren, Antwerp

De Boerentoren, Antwerp

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.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Antwerp. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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De Boerentoren on Map

Sight Name: De Boerentoren
Sight Location: Antwerp, Belgium (See walking tours in Antwerp)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Antwerp, Belgium

Create Your Own Walk in Antwerp

Create Your Own Walk in Antwerp

Creating your own self-guided walk in Antwerp is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Antwerp Introduction Walking Tour

Antwerp Introduction Walking Tour

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Historical Antwerp has its origins in a Gallo-Roman settlement, first mentioned in the 4th...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Antwerp's Historical Churches Tour

Antwerp's Historical Churches Tour

Antwerp, a city steeped in history and culture, boasts an array of historical churches that stand as testaments to its past.

Reigning supreme among them is the Cathedral of Our Lady, a stunning 14th-century Gothic masterpiece. Its towering spire dominates the city skyline and houses invaluable artworks by renowned artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer, and Marten de...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Antwerp Historic Center Walk

Antwerp Historic Center Walk

Antwerp is a bustling metropolis, replete with modern entertainment, yet it is the centuries-old city center that fuels tourists' interest the most. Indeed, downtown Antwerp is steeped in history. So much so, in fact, that to see all that it has to offer, you'll need way more than one day.

Here history awaits you practically round every corner – seen in the ancient building-fronts...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles