Het Steen

Het Steen, the oldest monument in Antwerp

On the bank of the Scheldt stands Het Steen, the oldest building still standing in Antwerp. This well-preserved medieval half-castle was once part of a true fortress that guarded the city. The Antwerp audio-guided tour stops here to go back to the origins of the port city, facing the river that made its fortune.

A thirteenth-century castle

Het Steen is what remains of a former fortified castle on the right bank of the Scheldt, whose origins go back to the thirteenth century. A vestige of Antwerp's medieval defensive system, it has crossed the centuries while the rest of the fortress vanished. Now converted into a welcome and discovery point for the city, it remains the oldest witness of Antwerp's past.

What to see

You admire the castle's squat outline, its turrets and its unique waterside location, with a fine view of the Scheldt. Converted into a visitor centre, Het Steen is an excellent starting point to discover Antwerp and its port history. Its position on the quays also makes it a prized walking spot, facing the river.

Practical information

Het Steen lies on the quays of the Scheldt, on the edge of the historic centre of Antwerp, reachable on foot. The castle now houses a tourist welcome point for the city, whose hours and access conditions vary with the season; it is best to check them before coming. The exterior and the surrounding quays can be freely discovered.

What is Het Steen in Antwerp?

It is the oldest building still standing in Antwerp, a vestige of a thirteenth-century fortified castle on the Scheldt, now a visitor welcome point.

Can you visit Het Steen?

The castle houses a tourist welcome point; its hours and access conditions vary with the season, to be checked before coming, while the quays can be freely enjoyed.