Architecture of Antwerp

The architectural character of Antwerp was defined during its two great eras of prosperity, in the 16th and 19th centuries. The relative lack of building at other times means that the city is unusually harmonious, with four- and five-story brick buildings mostly undisturbed by skyscrapers and steel-and-glass cubes. Traditional Flemish-Gothic architecture pervades Antwerp, from its impressive Grote Markt to the many small, unsung buildings that line the narrow streets of the old town. The style continued to influence construction in the 19th century, but that period also brought the richly ornamented buildings that line Antwerp's main shopping street, as well as the fanciful extravaganzas of the Antwerp zoo. The combination makes a walk through Antwerp an aesthetic delight.