Antwerp: History, Former Names & Timeline
The greatest commercial and financial centre of sixteenth-century Europe. Sacked by Spanish troops and cut off by the closing of the Scheldt, it gave way to Amsterdam; today it is one of Europe’s largest ports.
AntwerpExplore Antwerp in the interactive map
Former names of Antwerp
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1100 | Antwerpen |
Timeline of Antwerp
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1531 | The new Bourse opens |
| 1576 | Mutinous Spanish troops sack Antwerp (the ‘Spanish Fury’) |
| 1585 | Antwerp falls to the Duke of Parma; the Dutch close the Scheldt |
| 1648 | The Peace of Münster confirms the closure of the Scheldt |
| 1863 | Belgium buys off the Scheldt tolls and the port revives |
| 1920 | Antwerp hosts the Summer Olympics |
Who ruled Antwerp
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–401 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 400 BC–324 BC | Hallstatt culture |
| 323 BC–2 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 1 BC–299 | Roman Empire |
| 300–399 | Rome (Constantinus) |
| 400–499 | Western Roman Empire |
| 500–599 | Franks |
| 600–799 | Neustria |
| 800–999 | Carolingian Empire |
| 1000–1599 | Holy Roman Empire |
| 1600–1649 | Habsburg Netherlands |
| 1650–1782 | Luxembourg |
| 1783–1814 | Austrian Netherlands |
| 1815–1879 | Austrian Empire |
| 1880–today | Belgium |
Battles and sites near Antwerp
- Battle of Waterloo · 1815
- Maastricht · 1992
Famous people of Antwerp
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 1577 – 1640 | Peter Paul Rubens | Painter |
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Antwerp
What was Antwerp called in the past?
Antwerp has been known as Antwerpen (from 1100). Its present name dates from 1100.
Which states have ruled Antwerp?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Antwerp lies within 13 different states: Hallstatt culture, Roman Empire, Rome (Constantinus), Western Roman Empire, Franks, Neustria, Carolingian Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Netherlands, Luxembourg and others.
What are the key dates in the history of Antwerp?
1531: The new Bourse opens. 1576: Mutinous Spanish troops sack Antwerp (the ‘Spanish Fury’). 1585: Antwerp falls to the Duke of Parma; the Dutch close the Scheldt. 1648: The Peace of Münster confirms the closure of the Scheldt. 1863: Belgium buys off the Scheldt tolls and the port revives.
Which famous people are connected with Antwerp?
Peter Paul Rubens (painter, 1577 – 1640).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.