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.