Het Steen
The Stone Castle

Welcome to the oldest building in Antwerp! Learn about the city’s rich history, get picture perfect views on the rooftop, or just marvel at the longstanding piece of medieval architecture!

Cornerstone of Antwerp’s City Center

Check out the recently reopened Het Steen while strolling through Antwerp’s city center. While it’s always been one of the top sights to walk by while exploring the center, you can now enter the building for helpful info all about the diamond city!

• Just how old is the oldest building in Antwerp? Apparently the castle’s first stones were built in the 11th century! It’s located on the Scheldt harbor and neighboring the Ferris wheel, so this classic Flemish building is hard to miss. It’s the perfect place to start your Antwerp journey, since it’s conveniently located in the center of town.
• The building may be old, but it’s packed with history: Outside they’ve got the statue of Lange Wapper: a giant said to shrink down to the size of a mouse to scare drunken locals! There’s also the god of fertility, who’s statue “phallic membrane” was ironically cut off back in the day. Het Stone has been a prison, a home for soldiers, a sawmill, and a national maritime museum. Unfortunately the museum closed its doors - until now!
• Finally reopened in 2021! What all is here? The repurposed castle has a visitor’s center, cruise terminal, panoramic roof, and gift shop!
• There’s also the The Antwerp Story experience: you can discover the story of Antwerp in an interactive multimedia route as laid out by the city’s tourism agency. Get an in depth look at the neighborhoods, museums, and people of Antwerp. We personally haven’t done this, but if you’re keen you can sign up here.