Het Steen is the small stone castle on the bank of the Scheldt in Antwerp, the last remnant of the medieval fortress around which the city grew. Built in the early 13th century, it is generally called Antwerp's oldest building. It served as a prison for more than 500 years and today, with a modern extension, it is the city's visitor centre.
Het Steen at a glance
- Where: Steenplein, on the riverside quay a few minutes' walk west of the Grote Markt.
- Built: around 1200–1225, largely rebuilt under Emperor Charles V around 1520.
- What it is today: the Antwerp visitor centre, with the interactive Antwerp Story exhibition, a roof terrace and a cruise terminal; it reopened after renovation in 2021.
- Name: Het Steen means the stone (castle); it was first known as 's Heeren Steen, the lord's castle.
- Time needed: 15 minutes outside, about an hour if you visit the exhibition and the terrace.
From ducal castle to prison and visitor centre
There was a fortified settlement on this bend of the Scheldt long before Het Steen, probably from the 9th century. In the early 13th century the Dukes of Brabant built a stone gateway against the first city wall, and this is the part that survives. The castle controlled access to the river, the source of Antwerp's wealth. Around 1520 Charles V had it rebuilt and enlarged, which is when it got the name 's Heeren Steen, later shortened to Het Steen.
From 1303 to 1827 the building was used as a prison, and for a time it also housed the city's court. In the late 19th century the quays were straightened to stop the river silting up, and most of the old castle quarter, including dozens of houses and the city's oldest church, was demolished. Het Steen survived, heavily altered, and became a museum of archaeology in 1890 and later the maritime museum, until that collection moved to the nearby MAS in 2011. A renovation with a contested concrete extension was completed in 2021.
What to look for
- The gatehouse and towers: the grey stone walls and pointed turrets facing the river, the oldest part of the complex.
- The Lange Wapper statue: at the entrance bridge, a giant towering over two small human figures, made by the sculptor Albert Poels in 1963.
- The Semini relief: a worn stone figure above the archway, traditionally identified as Semini, an old fertility figure; it is one of the oldest carvings in the city.
- The new extension: the modern concrete wing on the city side, built for the visitor centre and cruise terminal.
- The view from the roof terrace: the Scheldt, the quays and the spires of the old town.
The giant Lange Wapper
Lange Wapper is a giant from Flemish folklore. In the stories he could change his size at will, and he used the gift to torment drunkards at night and cheat children at their games. Legend even says that the many statues of the Virgin Mary on Antwerp's street corners were put up to keep him away. The statue at the castle entrance shows him towering over two tiny figures. In Antwerp the giant is almost as familiar as Brabo, the hero who, in another legend, threw the hand of the giant Antigoon into the river.
Tips for your visit
- Come at sunset: the quay faces west over the Scheldt and the light on the castle walls is at its best.
- Walk up the ramps to the riverside promenade next to the castle for the best view of the towers.
- Start your city visit here: the visitor centre has maps and information about the whole city.
- Combine Het Steen with a walk north along the river to the MAS and the old docks.
Nearby
- Grote Markt: the main square with the Renaissance City Hall and the Brabo fountain, a few minutes' walk east.
- Cathedral of Our Lady: the Gothic cathedral with its tall spire and paintings by Rubens, just behind the Grote Markt.
- Vleeshuis: the striking brick-and-stone Butchers' Hall from the early 16th century, now a music museum.
- MAS: the museum on the old docks with a panoramic walkway up to its roof, a short walk north.
See Antwerp with World City Trail
Our Antwerp scavenger hunt turns the city centre into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around three hours, with about 44 minutes of walking. It includes places such as Antwerpen-Centraal station, the Cathedral of Our Lady and the City Hall.
If you prefer a different format, Antwerp also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Antwerp scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Antwerp →
Play the outdoor escape game in Antwerp →
Facts checked in October 2026.