List of people from Antwerp

This is a list of notable people from Antwerp, who were either born in Antwerp, or spent part of their life there.

Pre-16th century

 * Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence, son of Edward III of England (1338–1368)
 * Jacobus Barbireau, composer (1455–1491)
 * Lucas Adriaens, painter (1459–1493)
 * Daniel Bomberg, printer (c. 1475 – 1549)
 * Joachim Sterck van Ringelbergh, scholar, humanist, mathematician, and astrologer (c. 1499 – c. 1556)

16th century

 * Hieronymus Cockx, painter and engraver (1510–1570).
 * Hubert Waelrant, composer, teacher, and music editor of the Renaissance (c. 1517–1595)
 * Frans Floris, painter (1520–1570)
 * Abraham Ortelius, cartographer and geographer (1527–1598)
 * Jacques Jonghelinck, sculptor and medalist (1530–1606)
 * Emanuel van Meteren, historian and consul in London (1535–1612)
 * Frédéric Perrenot de Granvelle, governor of Antwerp (1536-1602)
 * Denis Calvaert, painter (1540–1619).
 * Cornelis van Aarsens, statesman (1545–1627)
 * Gillis van Coninxloo, painter of forest landscapes (1544–1607)
 * Hans Collaert, engraver (c. 1545–1628).
 * Joris Hoefnagel, painter and engraver (1545–1601).
 * Bartholomeus Spranger, painter, draughtsman, and etcher (1546–1611)
 * George de La Hèle (1547–1586) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance
 * Federigo Giambelli, Italian military and civil engineer (c. 1550-c. 1610)
 * Paul Bril and Matthijs Bril, landscape painters (1554–1626, 1550–1583, respectively)
 * Martin Delrio, Jesuit theologian (1551–1608)
 * Andreas Schottus, academic, linguist, translator, and editor (1552–1629)
 * Jan Gruter, critic and scholar (1560–1627).
 * Jacob de Gheyn II, painter and engraver (1562–1629)
 * Joachim van den Hove, composer and lutenist (c. 1567–1620)
 * Frans Pourbus the younger, painter (1569–1622)
 * Abraham Janssens, painter (c. 1570–1632).
 * Ambrosius Bosschaert, still-life painter (1573–1621)
 * Rodrigo Calderón, Count of Oliva, Spanish favourite and adventurer (died 1621)
 * Gillis d'Hondecoeter, painter (birth in Antwerp uncertain, 1575/80–1638)
 * Hendrick van Balen, painter (1575–1632)
 * Frans Snyders, still-life and animal painter (1579–1657)
 * Frans Hals, painter (1580–1666)
 * Caspar de Crayer, painter (1582–1669)
 * David Teniers the Elder, painter (1582–1649)
 * Cornelis de Vos, painter (1584–1651)
 * Jacob Le Maire, Dutch mariner (c. 1585–1616)
 * Pieter de Carpentier, administrator and Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (1586/88–1659)
 * Antonius Sanderus, historian, philologian, and theologian (1586–1664)
 * Guilielmus Messaus, composer (1589–1640)
 * Jacob Jordaens, painter (1593–1678)
 * Clara Peeters, painter (1594–c. 1657)
 * Jean-Charles de la Faille, Jesuit mathematician (1597–1652)
 * Justus Sustermans, Baroque painter (1597–1681)
 * Anthony van Dyck, painter (1599–1641)
 * Adriaen van Utrecht, painter (1599–1652)
 * Francken, family of painters (16th and 17th century)

17th and 18th century

 * Quellinus, family of artists, painters, and sculptors (17th century)
 * Gaspar Roomer, merchant and art patron (died 1674)
 * Jan Brueghel the Younger, painter (1601–1678)
 * François Ykens, painter (1601–1693)
 * Theodorus Moretus, mathematician, theologian, geometer and Jesuit (1602–1667)
 * Franciscus van den Enden, Baruch Spinoza's teacher (c. 1602 – 1674)
 * Leonora Duarte, composer and musician (1610–1678)
 * David Teniers the Younger, painter (1610–1690)
 * Jan Fyt, animal painter (1611–1661)
 * André Tacquet, mathematician (1612–1660)
 * Gonzales Coques, painter (1614–1684).
 * Carstian Luyckx, painter (c. 1623 – c. 1675)
 * Arnold Geulincx (1624–1669), a Flemish philosopher, metaphysician and logician.
 * Pieter Boel, still-life painter (1626–1674)
 * Jan van Kessel, senior, still-life painter (1626–1679)
 * Philip Fruytiers, painter (1627–1666)
 * Jan Siberechts, painter (1627–1703)
 * Abraham Brueghel, painter (1631–1690)
 * Nikolaus van Hoy, Baroque painter, draughtsman, and etcher (1631–1679)
 * David Teniers III, painter (1638–1685)
 * Francisque Millet (1642–1679), a Flemish-French landscape painter.
 * David de Coninck, painter (c. 1644 – c. 1701).
 * Cornelis Huysmans (1648-1727) a Flemish landscape painter.
 * Gerard Edelinck, copper-plate engraver (1649–1707)
 * Emmanuel Schelstrate, Roman Catholic theologian (1649–1692)
 * Pseudo-Simons, painter (1650–1680)
 * Jan van Kessel the Younger, painter (1654–1708)
 * Sebastiaen Slodtz (1655–1726) a Flemish sculptor and decorator.
 * Thomas Quellinus, Baroque sculptor (1661–1709)
 * Jan Frans van Bloemen, painter (1662–1740).
 * Jan Frans van Bredael, painter (1683–1750).
 * Peter Scheemakers, sculptor (1691–1781).
 * John Michael Rysbrack, sculptor (1694–1770)

19th century

 * Egide Charles Gustave Wappers, painter (1803–1874).
 * Guillaume Geefs, sculptor (1805–1883)
 * Hendrik Conscience, writer and author of De Leeuw van Vlaanderen ("The Lion of Flanders") (1812–1883)
 * Jan August Hendrik Leys, painter (1815–1869).
 * Jan van Beers, poet (1821–1888).
 * Johann Coaz, Swiss forester, topographer and mountaineer (1822–1918)
 * Michel Marie Charles Verlat, painter (1824–1890).
 * Henri Jean Augustin de Braekeleer, painter (1840–1888).
 * Julien Dillens, sculptor (1849–1904).
 * Jef Lambeaux, sculptor (1852–1908)
 * Georges Eekhoud, novelist (1854–1927)
 * Libert H. Boeynaems, vicar apostolic of the Hawaiian islands (1857–1926)
 * Hippolyte Delehaye, Jesuit and hagiographic scholar (1859–1941)
 * Arthur Van Gehuchten, anatomist (1861–1914/15)
 * Henry van de Velde, painter, architect, and interior designer (1863–1957)
 * Eugénie Hamer (1865–after 1926), peace activist
 * Johannes Jacobus Smith, botanist (1867–1947)
 * Pierre de Caters, adventurer, aviator, car and motorboat racer (1875–1944)
 * Eugeen Van Mieghem, painter (1875–1930)
 * Willem Elsschot, writer and poet (1882–1960)
 * Camille Clifford, actress (1885–1971)
 * Constant Permeke, expressionist painter (1886–1952)
 * Jef van Hoof, composer and conductor, (1886–1959)
 * Georges Vantongerloo, abstract sculptor and painter (1886–1965)
 * Jean Langenus, international football referee (1891–1952)
 * Pierre Ryckmans, head of the Belgian colony of Congo (1891–1959)
 * Paul van Ostaijen, poet and writer (1896–1928)
 * Marnix Gijsen, writer (1899–1984)

20th and 21st centuries

 * Albert Lilar, Minister of Justice (1900–1976)
 * Gérard Blitz, water polo player (1901–1990)
 * Lode Zielens, novelist and journalist (1901–1944)
 * George Koltanowski, chess player and promoter (1903–2000)
 * Frédérique Petrides, (née Frédérique Mayer) orchestral conductor and publisher (1903–1983)
 * Karel Bossart, rocket designer (1904–1975)
 * Maurice Anthony Biot, physicist and founder of the theory of poroelasticity (1905–1985)
 * André Cluytens, conductor (1905–1967)
 * Jef Maes, composer (1905–1996)
 * Georges Ronsse, cyclo-cross and road bicycle racer (1906–1969)
 * Maurice van Essche, Belgian-born South African painter (1906–1977)
 * Edmond de Goeyse, student leader (1907–1998)
 * Jean Servais, actor (1910–1976)
 * Renaat Braem, architect and urban planner (born 1910)
 * Willy Vandersteen, creator of comic books (1913–1990)
 * Edward Schillebeeckx, theologian (1914–2009)
 * Hubert Lampo, writer (1920–2006)
 * Guy Thys, national football coach (1922–2003)
 * Jan Yoors, photographer, painter, sculptor, writer, and Gypsy (1922–1977)
 * Karel Goeyvaerts, composer (1923–1993)
 * Jacques Sternberg, writer of science fiction (1923–2006)
 * Ward de Ravet, actor (1924–2013)
 * Leo Apostel, philosopher (1925–1995)
 * Bob de Moor, comic artist (1925–1992)
 * Karel Dillen, politician (1925–2007)
 * Bobbejaan Schoepen, entertainer, singer, guitarist, composer, and actor (1925–2010)
 * Paul Van Hoeydonck, printmaker and painter (born 1925)
 * Victor Mees, footballer (1927–2010)
 * Jef Nys, comic book creator (1927–2009)
 * Henry Spira, animal rights activist (1927–1998)
 * Lilly Appelbaum Malnik, Holocaust survivor (born 1928)
 * Bob Van der Veken, television actor (born 1928)
 * Maurice Tempelsman, diamond merchant and industrialist (born 1929)
 * Jan Vansina, historian and anthropologist (born 1929)
 * Françoise Mallet-Joris, writer and member of the Académie Goncourt (born 1930)
 * Bert Eriksson, neo-Nazi and Flemish nationalist (1931–2005)
 * Simon Kornblit, film studio executive for Universal Pictures (1933–2010)
 * Marc Rich, international commodities trader (born 1934)
 * Henry Geldzahler, curator of contemporary art (1935–1994)
 * Fernando Sanchez, Spanish fashion designer (1935–2006)
 * Martine Franck, photographer (born 1938)
 * Willy Steveniers, former profossional basketball player (born 1938)
 * Harry Kümel, film director (born 1940)
 * Jean-Baptiste Baronian, critic, essayist, writer, and novelist (born 1942)
 * Magda Francot, painter (born 1942)
 * Hugo Heyrman, painter and multimedia artist (born 1942)
 * Wim Blockmans, writer and professor of medieval history at Leiden University (born 1945)
 * Ann Christy, singer (1945–1984)
 * Georges Pintens, road bicycle racer (born 1946)
 * Guillaume Bijl, artist (born 1946)
 * Carl Verbraeken, composer (born 1950)
 * Ronald Zollman, conductor (born 1950)
 * Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven, painter, drawer, computer and video artist (born 1951)
 * Ludo Coeck, footballer (1955–1985)
 * Patrick Janssens, Socialist politician and mayor of Antwerp (born 1956)
 * Jan Fabre, drawer, sculptor, director, writer, choreographer, and designer (born 1958)
 * Jan Leyers, singer, songwriter, and television personality (born 1958)
 * Dries Van Noten, fashion designer (born 1958)
 * Luc Cromheecke, comic artist (born 1961)
 * Rita Bellens, politician (born 1962)
 * Robert C. Hancké, economist (born 1962)
 * Rudy Trouvé, musician (born 1967)
 * Tom Waes, television presenter, television director and actor (born 1968)
 * Els Callens, professional tennis player (born 1970)
 * Tom Barman, film director, musician, and singer of dEUS (born 1972)
 * Alex Agnew, stand-up comedian (born 1972)
 * Anke Vandermeersch, politician and former beauty queen (born 1972)
 * Christian Olde Wolbers, bassist of the industrial metal band Fear Factory (born 1972)
 * Mike Dierickx, also known as M.I.K.E., DJ and music producer (born 1973)
 * An Pierlé, pianist and singer-songwriter (born 1974)
 * Matthias Schoenaerts, actor (born 1977)
 * Steven De Lelie, actor and director (born 1977)
 * Jeffrey van Hooydonk, racing car driver (born 1977)
 * Tia Hellebaut, track and field athlete (born 1978)
 * Evi Goffin, vocalist of the musical group Lasgo (born 1981)
 * Mousa Dembélé, former professional footballer (born 1987)
 * Radja Nainggolan, professional footballer (born 1988)
 * Toby Alderweireld, professional footballer (born 1989)
 * Jean-Marc Mwema, professional basketball player (born 1989)
 * Laetitia Beck, Belgian-born Israeli golfer (born 1992)
 * Romelu Lukaku, professional footballer (born 1993)
 * Coely Mbueno singer (born 1994)
 * Tamino, musician (born 1996)
 * Jérémie Makiese (born 2000), Belgian-Congolese singer and footballer who will represent Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022
 * Jérémy Doku, professional footballer (born 2002)

Pre-16th century

 * Saint Pirmin, monk (c. 670–753)
 * Lodewyk van Berken, inventor of the scaif (15th century)
 * Johannes Pullois, Franco-Flemish composer (died 1478)
 * Matthaeus Pipelare, composer, choir director, and wind instrument player (c. 1450 – c. 1515)
 * Quentin Matsys, Renaissance painter, founder of the Antwerp school (1466–1530)
 * Pierre Alamire, music copyist, composer, instrumentalist, mining engineer, merchant, diplomat, and spy (c. 1470 – 1536)
 * Jan Mabuse, painter (c. 1478 – 1532)
 * Jacob van Utrecht, painter (c. 1479 – c. 1525)
 * Joachim Patinir, landscape and religious painter (c. 1480 – 1524)
 * Richard Aertsz, historical painter (1482–1577)

16th century

 * John Rogers, Minister of religion, Bible translator and commentator, and martyr (c. 1500 – 1555)
 * Jan Sanders van Hemessen, painter (c. 1500 – c. 1566)
 * Tielman Susato, composer, instrumentalist, and publisher of music (c. 1510/15 – after 1570)
 * Joos van Cleve, painter (c. 1500 – 1540/41)
 * Damião de Góis, Portuguese humanist philosopher (1502–1574)
 * Gerard de Jode, cartographer, engraver, and publisher (1509–1591)
 * Steven Mierdman, printer (born c. 1510)
 * Gracia Mendes Nasi, wealthy businesswoman (1510–1569)
 * Hans Hendrik van Paesschen, architect (c. 1510 – 1582)
 * Johannes Goropius Becanus, physician, linguist, and humanist (1519–1572)
 * Thomas Gresham, English merchant and financier (c. 1519 – 1579)
 * Anthony More, portrait painter (1520 – c. 1577)
 * Christoffel Plantijn, humanist, book printer and publisher (c. 1520 – 1589)
 * Crispin van den Broeck, painter (1523–1591)
 * Pieter Brueghel the Elder, painter and printmaker (1525–1569)
 * Thomas Cartwright, English Puritan churchman (c. 1535 – 1603)
 * Philippe Galle, designer and engraver (1537–1612)
 * Philip van Marnix, writer and statesman (1538–1598)
 * Andreas Pevernage, composer (1542/43–1591)
 * Jan Moretus, printer (1543–1610)
 * François d'Aguilon, mathematician and physicist (1546–1617)
 * Simon Stevin, mathematician and engineer (c. 1548 – 1620)
 * Federigo Giambelli, Italian military engineer (born c. 1550)
 * Louis de Caullery, painter (c. 1560 – 1621/22)
 * Dudley Fenner, English Puritan divine (c. 1558 – 1587)
 * Jan Vermeyen, goldsmith (c. 1559 – 1606)
 * Richard Rowlands, antiquary (c. 1560 – 1620)
 * John Bull, Welsh composer, musician, and organ builder (c. 1562 – 1628)
 * Cornelis Verdonck, composer (1563–1625)
 * Jan Brueghel the Elder, also known as "Velvet" Brueghel, painter (1568–1625)
 * Peter Paul Rubens, painter (1577–1640)
 * William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle, English soldier, politician, and writer (c. 1592 – 1676)
 * Abraham van Diepenbeeck, erudite and painter (1596–1675)
 * Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order

17th and 18th century

 * Adriaen Brouwer, painter (1605–1638)
 * Jan Davidszoon de Heem, painter (1606–1684)
 * Wenceslas Hollar, Bohemian etcher (1607–1677)
 * Jan Lievens, painter (1607–1674)
 * Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert, painter (1613–1656)
 * Peter Talbot, Roman Catholic archbishop of Dublin (1620–1680)
 * Charles II of England, king in exile in Antwerp (1630–1685)
 * Jan Frans Willems, writer (1793–1846)

19th century

 * Abraham van der Waeyen Pieterszen, painter (1817–1880)
 * Henri Alexis Brialmont, military engineer (1821–1903)
 * Lawrence Alma-Tadema, painter (1836–1912)
 * Albrecht De Vriendt (Ghent, 1843 – Antwerp, 1900), painter of genre scenes, history paintings, interiors and figure paintings
 * De Vriendt brothers, painters (born 1842/43)
 * Jan De Vos, mayor (1844–1923)
 * Vincent van Gogh, impressionist painter, lived in Antwerp for about four months (1853–1890)
 * Neel Doff, writer (1858–1942)
 * Walter Osborne, Irish impressionist (1859–1903)
 * Asriel Günzig, rabbi (1868–1931)
 * Camille Huysmans, Socialist politician and former Prime Minister of Belgium (1871–1968)
 * Jules Van Nuffel, musicologist, composer, and expert on religious music (1883–1953)

20th century

 * Albert Lilar, Minister of Justice (1900–1976)
 * Suzanne Lilar, writer (1901–1992)
 * Charlotte Bergman, art collector (1903–2002)
 * Chaim Kreiswirth, Chief Rabbi (1918–2001)
 * Jan Cox, painter (1919–1980)
 * Hugo Schiltz, lawyer and politician (1927–2006)
 * Françoise Mallet-Joris, writer (born 1930)
 * Godfried Danneels, archbishop and cardinal (born 1933)
 * Myriam Sarachik, physicist and recipient of the Buckley Prize in 2005 (1933–2021)
 * Giya Kancheli, Georgian composer (1935–2019)
 * Wannes Van de Velde, singer, musician, poet (1937–2008)
 * Ward Beysen, politician and freemason (1941–2005)
 * Robbe De Hert, film director (born 1942)
 * Robert Cailliau, co-developer of the World Wide Web (born 1947)
 * Roberto Mangou, painter (born 1950)
 * Luc Tuymans, artist and painter (born 1958)
 * The "Antwerp Six": Walter Van Beirendonck (born 1957), Ann Demeulemeester (born 1959), Dries van Noten (born 1958), Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs (born 1959), and Marina Yee, fashion designers
 * Martin Margiela, fashion designer (born 1959)
 * Matthias Storme, lawyer, academic, thinker, and politician (born 1959)
 * Stef Bos, singer (born 1961)
 * Filip Dewinter, politician (born 1962)
 * Erik Van Looy, film director (born 1962)
 * Anne Provoost, author of myths, tales, and bible stories (born 1964)
 * Fons Borginon, politician and lawyer (born 1966)
 * Stef Driesen, artist (born 1966)
 * Raf Simons, fashion designer (born 1968)
 * Mauro Pawlowski, guitar player of dEUS and Evil Superstars (born 1971)
 * David Palmer, squash player (born 1976)
 * Matthias Schoenaerts, actor (born 1977)
 * Veerle Casteleyn, ballet and jazz dancer (born 1978)
 * Jessica Van Der Steen, model (born 1984)
 * Rustemi Kreshnik, kickboxer (born 1984)
 * Yves V, DJ, producer and electronic musician (born 1981)