Description of the attraction
The majestic Antwerp railway station with a large dome and two turrets built into the central façade resembles a sacred building in its appearance. The current station building is already the third building erected on this site. Antwerp was connected by rail with Mechelen as early as 1836. Then the first station building was built, which was very small. There were more and more passengers, so a new station made of wood was built in its place 18 years later. By the end of the 19th century, it became clear that the city needed a more modern stone station building.
The station consists of a stone building where waiting rooms, ticket offices, cafes and shops are located, and platforms covered with a steel roof, which is at a height of 43 meters. This kind of "hangar" was built in 1895-1899 in accordance with the plans of the engineer Clement van Bogert. The building is 186 meters long and 66 meters wide.
The station building, decorated with several types of marble, was built from 1899 to 1905 under the direction of the architect Louis Delasenzeri. It was built in the eclectic style: its design intricately combines elements typical for buildings of various styles. During his work, Delasenzeri was inspired by the building of the old railway station in Lucerne and the Pantheon in Rome. The height of the building together with the dome is 75 meters.
The station in Antwerp was inaugurated on August 11, 1905. In 2014, Antwerp Station was ranked fifth busiest in Belgium.
