Antwerp's Port

Welcome to the Port of Antwerp, a colossal engine of global trade and the second largest port in Europe. As we stand here at the northern edge of the city, we are at the intersection of medieval history and 21st-century logistics. …

Before we look at the glass structure above, we must appreciate the foundation. The base of the Port House is a former fire station built in the 1920s. …

Looking up at the 100-meter-long glass structure, you are seeing Zaha Hadid's tribute to Antwerp's two great industries: shipping and diamonds. The faceted surface of the building is composed of hundreds of glass panels, some…

Just north of the Port House lies the Siberia Bridge, or Zee-be-ree-ah-brugh. The name is not accidental; it refers to the cold, biting winds that blow across the open water of the docks, making this one of the most exposed parts…

Continuing south, we arrive at the Red Star Line Museum, located in the original historic sheds of the famous shipping company. Between 1873 and 1934, over two million emigrants traveled from this very spot to America and Canada. …

The Museum aan de Stroom, or the Mahs, is a 60-meter-high tower of red sandstone and curved glass that has become an icon of the redeveloped port district since it opened in 2011. Designed by Neutelings Riedijk Architects, the…

While our walk has focused on the right bank, we must look across the river to the Left Bank, or Linker-oever, to understand the future of the Port of Antwerp. In the 1970s, the port began a massive expansion across the Scheldt…

As we conclude our tour of the Port of Antwerp and the magnificent Port House, take a final look at the faceted glass of Zaha Hadid's masterpiece. This building is a perfect symbol for the port itself: it is built on a solid,…