Antwerp Central Station

Antwerp Central Station, also called Middenstatie or Railway Cathedral by the Antwerp residents, was inaugurated in 1905. It has been voted several times as one of the most beautiful stations in the world, including by American Newsweek, the news website Mashable, The Telegraph and Stedentripper.com. This grand example of architecture on Astridplein consists of a steel platform roof and a stone station building in an eclectic style. The platform roof was designed between 1895 and 1899 by Clement van Bogaert. The roof is 43 meters high, 186 meters long and 66 meters wide. The stone station building was built between 1899 and 1905 by Louis Delacenserie in an eclectic style. Delacenserie was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, among other things. The highest point (75 meters) is a large dome. In 1975 the building got the status of protected monument and from 1986 it was thoroughly renovated. Between 2000 and 2009, the railway hall was doubled in capacity, including platforms on two underground levels and a tunnel under the station that runs under part of the city. Therefore since 2007 Antwerp Central station is no longer a terminal station where trains can only leave the station in the opposite direction. The large front hall (cathedral) with marble floor is often used for all kinds of events and performances, including dance demonstrations, flash mobs but also expositions. #stadantwerp #visitflanders #🇧🇪 #igantwerp #trip #trainstation #visitantwerp #travel #europe #station #travelblogger #travelblog #travelantwerp #anvers #antwerp #travelphotography #templeblessed #themepark#zoo#nationalpark#lakes#beaches