Timeline of Antwerp

The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Antwerp, Belgium.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Prior to 13th century

• from abt. 150 – abt. 250-270: Gallo-Roman settlement in the centre of Antwerp (at "Willem Ogierplaats").^[1][2][3]
• abt 700: Oldest mention of the name Andoverpis in a written source : the Vita Eligii dated early 8th century (abt. 700).^[4]
• 739: death of Saint Willibrord, bishop.^[5]
• 978: Treaty of Margut-sur-Chiers, between France and German empire, the river Scheldt is recognised as the border between Neustria and Lotharingia^[6]
• 980 – the German Emperor Otto II awarded Antwerp a margraviate, and build a fortification on the wharf (de burg) with a ditch the "burchtgracht"
• 1100 The Roya is a small natural river that runs outside the "Burchtgracht"
• 1104 The fortification of the "Burcht" is reinforced by Emperor Hendrik IV. The wall's height in increased from 5 metres (16 ft) to 12 metres (39 ft) its thickness from 1.35 metres (4.4 ft) to 2 metres (6.6 ft)
• 1109: Antwerp starts making city canals the "ruienstelsel" From the Koolvliet in the north via, Holenrui, Minderbroedersrui to Suikerrui and Botervliet in the south

13th–15th centuries

• 1250 – Construction of the second Vleeshuis, city butchery and Guildhouse of the butchers^[7]
• 1406 – City becomes part of the Duchy of Brabant.
• 1442 – Guild of Saint Luke granted privileges.
• 1477 – Quaeye Werelt revolt
• 1478
  • Joyous Entry of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor into the city.
  • Violieren chamber of rhetoric founded.^[8]
• 1481 – Matt. Van der Goes sets up printing press.^[9]
• 1491 – One of the world's "first" illustrated advertisements printed in Antwerp.^[10]

16th century

City of Antwerp, 1572

• 1503 – Construction of the third Vleeshuis, current building, city butchery and guildhouse of the butchers .^[11]
• 1513 – Guild Hall of the Archers built.^[12]
• 1515 – Joyous Entry of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor into the city.
• 1518 – Notre Dame Cathedral built.^[13]
• 1520 – Het Steen fortress rebuilt.
• 1523 – Church of St. Andrew built.^[12]
• 1528 – Merten de Keyser (printer) in business (approximate date).^[14]
• 1531 – Opening of the Bourse of Antwerp, the first purpose-built exchange.^[12]
• 1533 – Lancelot II of Ursel saves the Cathedral from total ruin.
• 1543 – Music publisher Susato in business.^[15]
• 1549 – Philip II of Spain visits city.^[16]
• 1552 – Girls' orphanage built.^[12]
• 1555 – Christophe Plantin (printer) in business.^[17]
• 1560s – Antwerp Citadel built.^[18]
• 1565 – City Hall built.^[12]
• 1566 – August: Protestant Reformation riots.^{[citation needed]}
• 1567 – 13 March: Battle of Oosterweel occurs near city.
• 1568
  • Anthony van Stralen, Lord of Merksem, former mayor is executed..
  • Maison Hanseatique built.^[12]
  • Population: 125,000.^[12]
• 1570 – Theatrum Orbis Terrarum atlas published.
• 1571 – Church of St. Paul built.^[12]
• 1572 – Antwerp Citadel completed.
• 1576 – 4 November: during the Sack of Antwerp, John III van de Werve, Lord of Hovorst gets killed by the Spanish forces.^[12]
• 1577 – Antwerp Citadel partially dismantled.
• 1579
  • City joins Union of Utrecht.
  • Hall of the Coopers built.^[12]
• 1583 – 17 January: François, Duke of Anjou tries to take city.
• 1584 – July: Siege of Antwerp begins.
• 1585

  

  Defeat of the rebels on the Kouwensteinsedijk, 26 May 1585

  • August: Siege of Antwerp ends; Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma in power.^[12]
  • Population: 85,000.^[12]
• 1589
  • Church of the Capuchins built.
  • Population: 55,000.^[12]
• 1593 – Hieronymus Verdussen (printer) in business (approximate date).
• 1594 – Joyous Entry of Archduke Ernest of Austria into the city.
• 1599 – Isabella and Albert (Habsburg Netherlands sovereigns) make their Joyous Entry into the city.^[19]

17th–18th centuries

Carnival on Ice at the Kipdorppoort Moats, c. 1620

• 1603 – Nicolaas II Rockox builds the Rockox House.
• 1609 – Twelve Years' Truce signed.

  

  View of the Meir in Antwerp. Painting by Erasmus de Bie

• 1615 – Church of Augustinians built.^[12]
• 1621 – Carolus Borromeuskerk built.^[12]
• 1635 – Joyous Entry of Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand into the city.^[20]
• 1638 – 20 June: Battle of Kallo.
• 1644 – House of the Tailors rebuilt.^[12]
• 1646 – Hall of the Carpenters rebuilt.^[12]
• 1646 – Siege of Antwerp by Frederick Henry failed.
• 1648
  • River Scheldt closed to navigation per Treaty of Münster.^[13]
  • Joyous Entry of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria into the city.^[21]
• 1656 – St. James' Church built.^[12]
• 1663 – Royal Academy of Fine Arts founded.
• 1745 – Royal Residence built on the Meir.
• 1746 – Osterrieth House built on the Meir.
• 1750 – Royal Horticultural and Agricultural Society exhibitions begin (approximate date).^[22]
• 1755 – Royal Palace built.^[12]
• 1790 – Population: 40,000.^[12]
• 1795 – City becomes capital of French département Deux-Nèthes.

19th century

Fish market, c. 1833

• 1802 – Quays built on Schelde River.^[12]
• 1805 – City Library opens in City Hall.^[23]
• 1810 – Royal Museum of Fine Arts founded.
• 1811 – Bonaparte Dock built.
• 1813 – Willem Dock built.
• 1815 – City becomes part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.^[13]
• 1816 – Jewish Community established.
• 1818 – Fortresses built.^[13]
• 1826 – Orangery built in the Botanical Garden.^{[citation needed]}
• 1830
  • Conflict between Belgian insurgents and Dutch forces.^[13]
  • Population: 73,506.^[12]
• 1832 – November–December: City besieged by French forces.^[12]
• 1834
  • Medical Society founded.^[24]
  • Theatre Royal built.^[12]
• 1843 – Zoological Garden founded.^[25]
• 1846 – Population: 88,487.^[13]
• 1848 – Jan Frans Loos becomes mayor.
• 1852 – Wuyts art gallery opens (approximate date).^[26]
• 1853
  • Institut Saint-Ignace [nl] inaugurated.^[27]
  • Church of St. George consecrated.^[12]
• 1859
  • Berchem and Borgerhout become part of city (approximate date).^[13]
  • Old city walls dismantled.^[12]
  • Fortress construction begins.
• 1860 – Kattendijk built.^[13]
• 1864 – Museum of Antiquities opens.^[28]
• 1866 – Cholera epidemic.
• 1867 – School of Music founded.^[29]
• 1870 – Fort Merxem constructed.^[13]
• 1871 – International Geographical Congress held.
• 1872 – Exchange building and Flemish Theatre built.^[12]
• 1873 – Horsecar trams begin operating.
• 1874 – Demolition of Antwerp Citadel begins.^[12]
• 1876 – Royal Geographical Society of Antwerp [nl] founded.^[30]
• 1877 – Plantin-Moretus Museum opens.
• 1879 – Population: 173,600.^[12]
• 1880 – Royal Antwerp Football Club formed.
• 1881 – Antwerp Water Works constructed.
• 1883 – Library building opens.
• 1884 – Royal Atheneum (school) built.^[31]
• 1885
  • Exposition Universelle d'Anvers (world's fair) held.
  • Temperance conference held.^[32]
• 1891 – Gazet van Antwerpen newspaper begins publication.^[33]
• 1892 – Société Anversoise du Commerce au Congo in business.
• 1893
  • Koninklijke Vlaamse Opera [nl] (Flemish Opera) founded.^[34]
  • Hollandse Synagoge built.
• 1894 – Exposition Internationale d'Anvers (world's fair) and Universal Peace Congress^[35] held.
• 1895 – Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo in business.
• 1896 – National Archives' Antwerp branch founded.^[36]
• 1897 – De Nieuwe Gazet [nl] newspaper begins publication.^[33]
• 1898 – Royal Conservatory established.^[37]

20th century

Bond of the City of Antwerp, issued 18. Mai 1917

• 1902 – Electric trams begin operating.
• 1903 – World Gymnastics Championships held.
• 1904 – Museum Mayer van den Bergh built.
• 1905 – Antwerpen-Centraal railway station and "America dock"^[13] open.
• 1906 – Fort Breendonk built.
• 1907 – Eisenmann Synagogue built.
• 1910
  • Population: 361,723.^[13]
  • St. Boniface Church consecrated.
• 1914 – September–October: Siege of Antwerp; German occupation begins.^[38][39]
• 1920
  • 1920 Summer Olympics held.
  • Compagnie Financière Belge des Pétroles headquartered in city.^[40]
  • Colonial school [nl] and Société Belge des Bétons^[41] founded
• 1921 – Schoonselhof cemetery established.
• 1923 – Airport opens.
• 1928 – Antwerpsche Diamantkring established.
• 1930 – Eeuwfeestkliniek (hospital) built.
• 1931 – Antwerp Book Fair begins.
• 1932 – Boerentoren built.
• 1933 – Museum of Flemish Literature founded.
• 1940 – May: German occupation begins.
• 1944
  • 4 September: Liberation by the British 11th Armoured Division.
  • October–November: Battle of the Scheldt.
• 1946 – Rubens House museum opens.
• 1966
  • Sporthal Arena built.
  • Wide White Space Gallery opens.
• 1967 – Antwerp International School established.
• 1968 – De Tijd newspaper begins publication.^[33]
• 1969
  • Jazz Middelheim festival begins.
  • Kennedytunnel opens.
  • Royal Ballet of Flanders established.
• 1970 – Chicagoblok built.
• 1975
  • Antwerp Pre-metro begins operating.
  • International Gemological Institute headquartered in city.
  • Cinderella´s Ballroom opened
• 1977 – 't Fornuis restaurant in business.
• 1981 – Zeno X gallery opens.^[42]
• 1983 – Berchem, Borgerhout, Deurne, Ekeren, Hoboken, Merksem, and Wilrijk become part of the city of Antwerp.^[43]
• 1985 – Museum of Modern Art founded.^{[citation needed]}
• 1989 – Berendrecht Lock constructed.
• 1994
  • Laus Polyphoniae festival begins.
  • Switel Hotel fire
• 1995 – City website launched (Digitale Metropool Antwerpen).^[44]

21st century

• 2003
  • Patrick Janssens becomes mayor.^[45]
  • University of Antwerp established.
• 2004
  • Fotomuseum Antwerp opens.
  • City designated a UNESCO World Book Capital.
• 2006
  • 0110 concert held.
  • FelixArchief (city archives)^[46] and Law Courts building open.
• 2007
  • Antwerp World Diamond Centre established.^[47]
  • Stadsfeestzaal [nl] shopping center opens.^{[citation needed]}
• 2011
  • Museum aan de Stroom opens.
  • Population: 507,007.
• 2013 – Bart De Wever becomes mayor.
• 2025 - Els van Doesburg replaced Bart de Wever as mayor.

See also

• History of Antwerp [nl]
• List of mayors of Antwerp
• List of schools in Antwerp
• List of parks in Antwerp
• List of historical monuments of Antwerp/Historical Center [nl]
• Timelines of other municipalities in Belgium: Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, Liège
• History of urban centers in the Low Countries