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Monument · Antuérpia, Antuérpia
Station Antwerpen-Centraal
Train station opened in 1905, with an entrance hall of stone and marble beneath a large dome. The Belgians call it the railway cathedral.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Station Antwerpen-Centraal
For many people, Antuérpia begins at Antwerpen-Centraal station, and it deserves a stop even if you are not taking a train. The building was constructed between 1895 and 1905 to a design by Louis Delacenserie. The local nickname, spoorwegkathedraal, means railway cathedral, because of the dome above the waiting hall.
The hall mixes stone, multicolored marble, iron and glass. The grand staircase leads to the upper tracks, covered by an iron-and-glass nave designed by engineer Clément Van Bogaert. A huge clock sits high on the wall above the stairs.
The station has four levels and 14 tracks. Until 2007 it was a terminus; a tunnel under the city allowed trains to pass through. Today there are platforms at street level and on two underground levels, and the view from above of the layered tracks is striking.
On the roof of the tracks you can still see a waviness caused by the V-2 rockets of the Second World War. Next to the station are the Antuérpia Zoo and the diamond district, with dozens of jewellery shops on Hoveniersstraat and nearby streets.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes to walk through the hall, the staircase and the platform levels.
Best time
Outside the morning and late-afternoon rush hours, when passenger flow is heavy. On a rainy day, the station is a good covered stop.
How to get there
If you arrive by train you're already there. From the historic centre, follow Meir to Astridplein square, about 2 km from the Grote Markt. Several pre-metro lines stop at Diamant station beneath it.
Tip
Climb the main staircase and look at the dome from the mezzanine. Also go down to the underground levels to see the layered platforms. If you have time, take a walk through the diamond district right next door.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Station Antwerpen-Centraal
Do you need a ticket to enter the station?
No. The concourse and public areas remain open to people moving through the station. A ticket is only required to board.
What is the diamond district?
It is the area of streets next to the station where Antwerp’s diamond trade is concentrated, with many jewelry shops in the windows.