 Antwerp Central Station (Antwerpen-Centraal) is the main railway station in Antwerp, and arguably the architecturally most outstanding construction of its kind in Flanders and Belgium.
The station was built at the end of the 19th century (1895-1905) and replaced an earlier station of the Brussels-Mechelen-Antwerp railway.
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Top of the Antwerp Central railway station.
Visit picture gallery of Antwerp Central.
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The railway station is topped by an impressive dome. Another distinguishing feature of the station is the large iron and glass trainshed, which now after renovation has been painted in red on the outside.
The railway station has been extensively renovated and train tracks re-engineered over the last decade. Actually, when we revisited (and used the station) in 2011, it was the first time in a long while that we did not notice any scaffolding or construction going on.
Previously all trains arrived on the same elevated level. Now, in addition, there are underground terminating tracks on two levels. Renovation was necessary to accommodate high-speed trains passing through Antwerp.
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Iron and glass trainshed at Antwerp Central. |
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Antwerp Central is indeed centrally located and almost optimal for visitors and tourists. Most of the interesting sites in Antwerp, can be reached by foot, walking west from the station. Following the Keyserlei you will soon arrive at the Meir, the shopping high-street of Antwerp. The Cathedral of Our Lady is less than two kilometers away. Alternatively, you can take a tram line going in the direction of the Groenplaats to arrive at the historical center of the city.
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Inside Antwerp Central railway station.
Visit picture gallery of Antwerp Central. |
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