< Top 10 of Brussels, Bruges Antwerp & Ghent
Antwerp Cathedral
Antwerp Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries – also one of the most beautiful. Its dainty wedding-cake spire, rising up from a medieval market square, is still a major landmark in the city. The cathedral took 170 years to build, and even then was not complete. It was the church of the wealthy guilds, richly adorned with their shrines, reliquaries and altarpieces. Gutted by fire and vandals in the 16th and 18th centuries, the cathedral still has a number of major treasures, chief among them two magnificent triptychs by Rubens.
Top 10 Features
The Spire
The cathedral’s dainty and unusual spire was built over about 100 years from the mid 1400s onward. As it rises to its pinnacle at 123 m (404 feet), it shows increasingly daring Gothic style. The only other comparable spire is that of the Hôtel de Ville in Brussels, of a similar date.
The Nave
The interior is bright, light and uplifting, largely by virtue of its scale, the expanse of glass, and the simple, soaring space that rises to the rib vaults. Unusually, the columns of the aisle have no capitals, so bend seamlessly to form Gothic arches, creating a serene effect.
The Raising of the Cross
This triptych, and the equally impressive Descent from the Cross on the other side of the nave, secured Rubens’ reputation in Antwerp. The central and right-hand panels display the dynamic energy that was Rubens’ hallmark. The left-hand panel shows the grief of Christ’s companions.
The Pulpit
Elaborately carved oak pulpits are a feature of many Belgian churches. The subject of this one, the propagation of the faith in the “four” continents, is tackled with extraordinary ambition – a riot of birds, trees, textile swags, angels, saints and symbolic figures.
Original Murals
The cathedral was once bright with murals, but over time they fell away or were overpainted. Restoration has revealed patches of the originals.
The Virgin Exalted through Art
In the late 19th century, the cathedral was rescued from neglect by massive restoration. In some cases this was overzealous, but the effort to recreate a medieval effect in some of the chapels behind the choir is admirable. Albert de Vriendt’s fine triptych shows the “Eyckian” revival at its best.
The Burgundian Window
A fair amount of the cathedral’s original stained glass has survived. This is the oldest window, dating from 1503. It depicts Philip the Handsome and Joanna of Castile, with their patron saints behind them.
The Cupola
From outside, the dome looks like a tiered black onion. Inside, its logic is clear: the glass tiers let in light to illuminate the Assumption of the Virgin (1647), Cornelis Schut’s impressive ceiling painting. The effect is of looking straight up into the heavens.
The Madonna of Antwerp
This exceptional little wooden statue has been a focus of devotion since the 16th century, and has a changing wardrobe of robes and crowns.
The Schyven Organ
This impressive instrument is housed in a magnificent 17th-century case created by three leading sculptors of the day.
Tip: Listen out for the carillon bells – the set of 49 bells that play tunes on the hour. In the summer, regular carillon concerts are given, when the bells are played from a keyboard.
Tip: There are plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants in the streets surrounding the cathedral. One tavern, Het Vermoeide Model in Lijnwaadmarkt, is actually built up against the cathedral walls. Het Kathedraalcafé in Torfbrug has a pleasant terrace and an interior decorated with statues of saints and other religious paraphernalia.
Iconoclasts and French Revolutionaries
Visitor Information
- Handschoenmarkt
- 03 213 99 51
- Open 10am–5pm Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm Sat, 1–4pm Sun and public hols
- Admission: €5, children under 12 free