# Timeline of Antwerp

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

## Prior to 13th century

* from abt. 150 – abt. 250-270: Gallo-Roman settlement in the centre of Antwerp (at "Willem Ogierplaats").
* abt 700: Oldest mention of the name Andoverpis in a written source : the Vita Eligii dated early 8th century (abt. 700).
* 739: death of Saint Willibrord, bishop.
* 978: Treaty of Margut-sur-Chiers, between France and German empire, the river Scheldt is recognised as the border between Neustria and Lotharingia
* 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
* 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.
* 1481 – Matt. Van der Goes sets up printing press.
* 1491 – One of the world's "first" illustrated advertisements printed in Antwerp.

## 16th century

Part of a series on the :
History of Belgium :
PrehistoryNeolithic flint mines of Spiennes 4300–2200 BC :
Ancient Belgae, Eburones & Treveri ~51 BC Gallic Wars 58–50 BC • Ambiorix's revolt 54–53 BC Roman rule 51 BC–c.500 AD :
Early Middle Ages Franks   Merovingians 481–751 Carolingians 751–987 Prince-Bishopric of Liège 980–1789 :
Middle Ages Franco-Flemish War 1297–1305 Burgundian rule 1384–1482 • Wars of Liège 1465–68 Habsburg rule 1482–1556 :
Early Modern Northern Renaissance 15th–16th century Spanish rule 1556–1714 • Seventeen Provinces 1549–81 • Dutch Revolt 1568–1648 • Southern Netherlands Austrian rule 1714–93 • Brabant Revolution 1789–90 • Liège Revolution 1789–91 French rule 1793–1815 :
19th century Dutch rule 1815–30 Belgian Revolution 1830–31 Reign of Leopold I 1831–65 • Treaty of London1839 Reign of Leopold II 1865–1909 • School War 1879–84 • Congo Free State 1885–1908 :
20th and 21st centuries Belgian Congo1908–60 Reign of Albert I1909–34 World War I1914–18 • Invasion1914 • Atrocities1914 • German occupation1914–18 Ruanda-Urundi1922–62 Reign of Leopold III1934–51 World War II 1940–45 • Invasion 1940 • German occupation1940–44 • Holocaust1941–44 Royal Question1944–50 Reign of Baudouin1951–93 Reign of Albert II1993–2013 Reign of Philippe 2013~ :
Timeline • Military • Jewish history • LGBT Belgium portal :
vte :
* 1503 – Construction of the third Vleeshuis, current building, city butchery and guildhouse of the butchers .
* 1513 – Guild Hall of the Archers built.
* 1515 – Joyous Entry of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor into the city.
* 1518 – Notre Dame Cathedral built.
* 1520 – Het Steen fortress rebuilt.
* 1523 – Church of St. Andrew built.
* 1528 – Merten de Keyser (printer) in business (approximate date).
* 1531 – Opening of the Bourse of Antwerp, the first purpose-built exchange.
* 1533 – Lancelot II of Ursel saves the Cathedral from total ruin.
* 1543 – Music publisher Susato in business.
* 1549 – Philip II of Spain visits city.
* 1552 – Girls' orphanage built.
* 1555 – Christophe Plantin (printer) in business.
* 1560s – Antwerp Citadel built.
* 1565 – City Hall built.
* 1566 – August: Protestant Reformation riots.
* 1567 – 13 March: Battle of Oosterweel occurs near city.
* 1568
** Anthony van Stralen, Lord of Merksem, former mayor is executed..
** Maison Hanseatique built.
** Population: 125,000.
* 1570 – Theatrum Orbis Terrarum atlas published.
* 1571 – Church of St. Paul built.
* 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.
* 1577 – Antwerp Citadel partially dismantled.
* 1579
** City joins Union of Utrecht.
** Hall of the Coopers built.
* 1583 – 17 January: François, Duke of Anjou tries to take city.
* 1584 – July: Siege of Antwerp begins.
* 1585Defeat of the rebels on the Kouwensteinsedijk, 26 May 1585
** August: Siege of Antwerp ends; Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma in power.
** Population: 85,000.
* 1589
** Church of the Capuchins built.
** Population: 55,000.
* 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.

## 17th–18th centuries

* 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.
* 1621 – Carolus Borromeuskerk built.
* 1635 – Joyous Entry of Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand into the city.
* 1638 – 20 June: Battle of Kallo.
* 1644 – House of the Tailors rebuilt.
* 1646 – Hall of the Carpenters rebuilt.
* 1646 – Siege of Antwerp by Frederick Henry failed.
* 1648
** River Scheldt closed to navigation per Treaty of Münster.
** Joyous Entry of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria into the city.
* 1656 – St. James' Church built.
* 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).
* 1755 – Royal Palace built.
* 1790 – Population: 40,000.
* 1795 – City becomes capital of French département Deux-Nèthes.

## 19th century

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

## 20th century

* 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" open.
* 1906 – Fort Breendonk built.
* 1907 – Eisenmann Synagogue built.
* 1910
** Population: 361,723.
** St. Boniface Church consecrated.
* 1914 – September–October: Siege of Antwerp; German occupation begins.
* 1920
** 1920 Summer Olympics held.
** Compagnie Financière Belge des Pétroles headquartered in city.
** Colonial school [nl] and Société Belge des Bétons 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.
* 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.
* 1983 – Berchem, Borgerhout, Deurne, Ekeren, Hoboken, Merksem, and Wilrijk become part of the city of Antwerp.
* 1985 – Museum of Modern Art founded.
* 1989 – Berendrecht Lock constructed.
* 1994
** Laus Polyphoniae festival begins.
** Switel Hotel fire
* 1995 – City website launched (Digitale Metropool Antwerpen).

## 21st century

* 2003
** Patrick Janssens becomes mayor.
** University of Antwerp established.
* 2004
** Fotomuseum Antwerp opens.
** City designated a UNESCO World Book Capital.
* 2006
** 0110 concert held.
** FelixArchief (city archives) and Law Courts building open.
* 2007
** Antwerp World Diamond Centre established.
** Stadsfeestzaal [nl] shopping center opens.
* 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.