Antwerp-Central

Brief information

Antwerp-Central is interesting because the old terminus station was not demolished, but transformed into a multi-level transport hub. From the outside, it remains a monumental station building with a train shed and dome, while inside, after reconstruction, it gained through tracks below and a direct connection to the railway on the northern side of the city.

The Eastern Station used to stand on this site. The new main station was built in stages: first the train shed appeared, then the station building. By the mid-20th century, the structures had deteriorated so much that decorative elements were either secured or removed, and once a stone weighing three hundred kilograms fell from the cornice. That is why the restored details here matter not as decoration in themselves: they show that the building survived not only expansion, but also an almost unsafe condition.

What to notice first

It makes sense to compare the three track levels. The upper level retained the terminal tracks, more terminal tracks were added below, and the lowest level received through tracks. This makes the main engineering change visible: the station ceased to be an endpoint and became part of through traffic.

Another important detail is the open atrium, through which natural light reaches the underground levels. It helps the reconstruction read not as a hidden underground insertion, but as part of the station’s overall space. Alongside this, it is worth keeping in mind the 186-meter-long train shed and the 75-meter-high dome: the old scale was not erased, but supplemented with new depth. The new entrance from the Kievitstraat side completes this logic: the historic station effectively gained another station, connected to the platforms.