Antwerp

Brief history

Antwerp first experienced an economic boom in the 12th century, when the rival port of Bruges started silting up. By the first half of the 14th century, the city had become the most important trading and financial centre in Western Europe, its reputation based largely on its seaport and wool market.

In 1356, Antwerp, which had been part of the Holy Roman Empire, was annexed to the County of Flanders and lost lots of its privileges, partly to Bruges' advantage. 50 years later, the political and economic tide turned again and as the Golden Age unfolded Antwerp became a world-class metropolis.

Antwerp was the focus of politico-religious struggles between the Protestant North and Catholic South (Spain), which led to the River Scheldt being closed, by the second half of the 16th century. From an economic point of view, this was a disaster. Thanks to painters like Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck, Jordaens and Teniers, yet the city continued to flourish culturally until the mid-seventeenth century.

From 1650 until the 19th century, the city went into serious decline, as the Scheldt remained closed and became little more than a provincial town. Only after the fall of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 did Antwerp enter a short period of prosperity, which ended with the Belgian Revolution in 1830 and once again the closure of the Scheldt. In 1863 the river was finally reopened for good, helping Antwerp to return to its former glory.

Apart from interruptions during the two world wars, Antwerp has experienced steady economic growth since the start of the 20th century and is now home to the second-largest European port, as well as the world hub for uncut diamonds.