ARCHITECT ATLAS
Loading atlas
Het Steen

Het Steen

Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Location
Antwerp, Belgium
Client / Owner
—
Year
Completed 1225
Access
Public
Style
—

Het Steen in Antwerp was built between 1200 and 1225 as a gateway to a larger Brabant ducal castle, on the old fortification wall beside the south city gate. The article names no architect or style. Charles V rebuilt it significantly around 1520, and it served as a prison from 1303 to 1827.

Most of the complex was demolished in the 19th century when the quays were straightened, including dozens of historic houses and the oldest church. Surviving parts include the first stone city wall and a bas-relief above the entrance. The relief is dated about the 2nd century, which the article does not explain.

It became a museum of archaeology in 1890, and a maritime annex was added in 1952. A renovation finished in October 2021 added a modern concrete extension. It is now a visitor centre and shipping museum, with a giant statue, Lange Wapper, on the entrance bridge.

Comments

  • Loading comments…
Be kind. Anyone can flag a comment for review.

Sign in

or

Your profile

3 to 24 letters, numbers, underscores or periods. It’s shown with your comments.

Contact us

Questions, corrections or ideas? Your message goes straight to the Architect Atlas owner.

Save to list

    Edit information

    We look the building up on Wikipedia for you. Architect Atlas lists buildings that have their own Wikipedia article: our test for notoriety and our source of truth.

        Typology
        Style (one to three)
        Photo (shown in a 4:3 frame)

        Drag and zoom to frame the building well. New photos are checked before they appear.

        Every change is checked before it goes live: facts against Wikipedia, photos by eye.