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Antwerp

Port in Belgium on the River Schelde, capital of the province of Antwerp, 43 km/27 mi north of Brussels; population (2003 est) 450,000, urban agglomeration 952,600. A commercial and financial centre, it is Belgium's second city and the largest town in Flanders, the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium. One of the world's busiest ports, it is a major international centre of the diamond industry, and is the seat of the world's first stock exchange (founded 1406). Other industries include shipbuilding, oil refining, petrochemicals, dyes, photographic supplies, motor vehicles, food processing, and textiles. The home of the 17th-century Flemish artist Rubens is preserved, and several of his works are in the Gothic cathedral.

History

Archaeological excavations indicate that the site of Antwerp was occupied by the 2nd century. It wasa small trading centre by the early 8th century, but destroyed by Norsemen in 836. But by the 11th century it was a fairly important port, and the city was chartered in 1291. It steadily grew to prosperity in the 15th century as Bruges and Ghent declined. By the middle of the 16th century, Antwerp was Europe's chief commercial and financial centre. The diamond industry, established in the 15th century, had expanded considerably after the arrival (early 16th century) of Jewish craftsmen expelled from Portugal. Religious quarrels divided the town, and Antwerp was involved in the Netherlands' revolt against Spain's Roman Catholicism. The city's prosperity suffered in 1576 when it was sacked and about 6,000 of its inhabitants were killed by Spanish troops; and again in 1584-85 when the city was captured by the Spanish general and statesman Alessandro Farnese (1545-1592), later Duke of Parma, who sent all Protestant citizens into exile.

In 1648, the River Schelde was closed to navigation (as a means of favouring Amsterdam) by the Treaty of Westphalia, and Antwerp declined rapidly. The French, who controlled the city from the late 18th century, re-opened it, and Napoleon I ordered the construction of new docks and shipbuilding yards. The Belgians gained possession in 1839, and paid 36 million francs to obtain from the Netherlands the freedom of traffic on the River Schelde. From that time the city steadily advanced in prosperity. The city was seriously damaged in World War I when it was captured by the Germans in October 1914, after a 12-day siege. It was taken again by the Germans in World War II (May 1940), who bombarded it heavily after it had been recaptured by the Allies in September 1944.

Architecture and art The city is exceptionally rich in treasures of architecture and painting, among them the Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame (1352-1543), which has six aisles, and is home to Rubens's masterpieces The Descent from the Cross and The Elevation of the Cross; the church of St James (1491-1656) containing the tomb of Rubens and featuring an altar-piece by him; Rubens's house; the old castle Steen (10th century) and the Butchers' Hall (16th century), both now historical museums; the Hôtel de Ville (1565); the Exchange (15th century); and the Diamond Museum. The Flemish printer Christophe Plantin made the city a centre of printing in the 16th century; his family house and workshop is now a museum. The Royal Gallery of Fine Arts includes paintings by Massys and Rubens (who resided in the city), Van Eyck, Memlinc, Van Dyck (who was born in Antwerp), and Jordaens, among many other Flemish painters.

Other features The zoo is one of the oldest and largest in the world. The De Konninck Brewey has been established in the city since 1833 and exports ‘Bolleke’ beer all over the world. The Albert Canal, completed in 1939, links Antwerp with Liège. The city was Cultural Capital of Europe in 1993.

Antwerp (province)

Antwerpen

Anvers

Goovaerts, Alphonse (Jean Marie André)