Het Steen

Het Steen, the oldest building in Antwerp, was built between 1200 and 1225 as the gate of the Antwerp castle. It served as a prison until 1823 and later as a home for wounded soldiers. After the government took it over in 1827, it was quickly sold to a sawmill, but in 1842 the city bought it back. Much of the castle was demolished in the 1880s to make way for a wider canal. The archaeological museum of 1864 was replaced by the National Maritime Museum in 1952. Since October 22, 2021, Het Steen has been renovated into the Antwerp Visitor Center. A 350 meter long pontoon was built along the shore for the Antwerp Cruise Terminal, where cruise ships moor. Construction started in 2018 and was completed in 2021.

Of course, the impressive castle is not made of one stone, as the name suggests, but of many. From very many. Lots of old stones, because the castle (most of it, apart from the renovations and additions) dates back to the 9th century.

Over time, it became part of the city's fortifications and protected Antwerp from greedy visitors - of which there were quite a few. Then she was in prison. You, on the other hand, are very welcome and are allowed in and out without going to court.

Today you can find out more about Antwerp and the history of the city - brand new and freshly opened.

Het Steen is the oldest preserved building in Antwerp - after all, the first stones date from the 11th century - and has fulfilled numerous functions over the centuries. It is located on the Scheldt at the former peninsula De Werf. In the 9th century, the first settlement with an earthen wall appeared on the Werf. This is how a castle was created. Around the turn of the century, between the 12th and 13th centuries, a stone castle wall and the Steen, one of the three gatehouses of the castle, were built here. Het Steen was thoroughly renovated under Charles V at the beginning of the 16th century. You can still see that in the color difference in the facade.
Until 1823, Het Steen was used as a prison. After serving briefly as a home, sawmill and fish store, Het Steen opened its doors as a museum in 1862. First as the Museum of Antiquities and from 1952 to 2008 as the National Maritime Museum. Now you can admire that collection in the MAS | Museum aan de Stroom.
Het Steen is currently being thoroughly renovated. In 2021, the Steen will form the gateway to Antwerp and serve as a cruise terminal, welcome center and interactive experience trail. Antwerp and its history are central to the experience center.
Be sure to walk past Het Steen when you visit Antwerp. You feel like a knight or damsel in the castle decor: the perfect background for a fairytale photo on the Scheldt.