Antwerp Central Station

Antwerp Central Station is an important hub through which connections are established with other cities not only within the country, but also abroad. The appearance of the station is a special pride of the city, because it is considered one of the most beautiful and impressive stations in the whole world. The railway service is provided by the National Railway Company of Belgium.

General information

Most tourists arriving in the city end up at Antwerp Central Station, as it is the starting point for those planning to get to know the largest city in Flanders. The station leaves only the most positive emotions in everyone. There used to be a small station on the site of Antwerp Central Railway Station, but over time it became insufficient, and it was decided to build a new station for the needs of the city.

Construction proceeded in several stages; in 1898, a structure was built for unloading passengers and other cargo, then construction of the building began. Louis Delacenzeri was appointed as the architect; local authorities liked his project more than others. By 1905 the station was ready. The Antwerp central railway station existed in this form until the mid-20th century; gradually the walls and decorative elements were destroyed, which significantly complicated the work of the railway. Another problem was the dead end of the building. Since demolition was impossible, it was decided to carry out a global reconstruction. From 1998 to 2009, various works were carried out, after which the station was able to fully function again.

Features of the station

Stylistically, the entire structure of Antwerp Central Railway Station is most reminiscent of eclecticism; there is no strict reference to any particular direction, but there are bright details from different styles. Most of the details are from Gothic. Tall towers, spacious arches and numerous columns. The ceiling of the station is made up of numerous glass elements, they go down some of the walls.

One of the sides of the station is almost entirely made of glass, and looks very modern compared to the others. The interiors of Antwerp Central Station make a strong impression ─  despite the relative freshness, they are all reminiscent of old times, look festive and even a little fabulous. There are many glass arches, columns and stained glass windows. Various sculptures also delight city guests. The station is worth a visit even for those who came to the city by a different route; the spirit of the new times is concentrated here, intertwined with the history and traditions of antiquity, and it looks very interesting and unusual.