Het Steen, Medieval fortress in Antwerp, Belgium
Het Steen is a medieval fortress on the banks of the River Scheldt in Antwerp with thick stone walls and defensive towers. Inside, a paved courtyard leads to rooms now used for exhibitions about the city's past.
The fortress was built around 1200 as a defensive gateway to protect the harbor. It later became a prison where people were held for several centuries before it transformed into a cultural venue.
The name 'Het Steen' means 'the stone' and comes from when Antwerp was a major trading port. You can see carved stone details on the facade that reflect local traditions and show how important this fortress was to the city.
The building sits by the river in the old town center and is easy to reach on foot. Access is straightforward for most visitors, and you should plan for a couple of hours to see the exhibitions comfortably.
Only a small portion of the original structure remains today because large sections were demolished during the river expansion in the 1800s. These changes reveal how much the city reshaped itself to expand its port.
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