Steen Castle

Steen Castle, locally known as Het Steen, lies on the east bank of the Scheldt River in the city center of Antwerp, in the province of Antwerp in the Flemish Region in Belgium.

The castle got its name, which translates to 'The Stone,' because it was one of the earliest stone buildings in Antwerp, at a time when most houses were still built of wood.

Legend has it that the first fortification at this site dates back to 645 and that in 836, another fortification at this site was destroyed by Vikings. However, those earlier fortifications were probably just earthen ramparts with palisades.

The castle we see today was built around 1200-1225 for the Dukes of Brabant. At that time, it was part of a much larger fortification. What remains today is estimated to be less than 5% of that original structure.

Around 1520, during the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Steen Castle was renovated by architects Keldermans and De Waghemakere. For their renovations, they used a much lighter stone, namely sandstone rather than Tournai limestone. That is why the current walls differ in color.

In 1549, the castle was converted into a prison, a use it served until 1823. During the 18th and 19th centuries, several restorations were carried out. In 1842, the castle was purchased by the Antwerp city council. In the 1880s, large parts of the castle were demolished during the river straightening project. Between 1864 and 2008, the castle functioned as a museum.

Today, Steen Castle houses the local Tourist Information Office. It is a very nice castle in a great city.

Gallery

2003