Timeline of Antwerp

The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Antwerp, Belgium.

Prior to 13th century

 * from abt. 150 – abt. 250-270: Gallo-Roman settlement in the centre of Antwerp (at "Willem Ogierplaats").
 * abt 700: Oldest mention of the name Andoverpis in a written source : the Vita Eligii dated early 8th century (abt. 700).
 * 739: death of Saint Willibrord, bishop.
 * 978: Treaty of Margut-sur-Chiers, between France and German empire, the river Scheldt is recognised as the border between Neustria and Lotharingia
 * 980 – the German Emperor Otto II awarded Antwerp a margraviate, and build a fortification on the wharf (de burg) with a ditch the "burchtgracht"
 * 1100 The Roya is a small natural river that runs outside the "Burchtgracht"
 * 1104 The fortification of the "Burcht" is reinforced by Emperor Hendrik IV. The wall's height in increased from 5 m to 12 m its thickness from 1.35 m to 2 m
 * 1109: Antwerp starts making city canals the "ruienstelsel" From the Koolvliet in the north via, Holenrui, Minderbroedersrui to Suikerrui and Botervliet in the south

13th–15th centuries

 * 1250 – Construction of the second Vleeshuis, city butchery and Guildhouse of the butchers
 * 1406 – City becomes part of the Duchy of Brabant.
 * 1442 – Guild of Saint Luke granted privileges.
 * 1477 – Quaeye Werelt revolt
 * 1478
 * Joyous Entry of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor into the city.
 * Violieren chamber of rhetoric founded.
 * 1481 – Matt. Van der Goes sets up printing press.
 * 1491 – One of the world's "first" illustrated advertisements printed in Antwerp.

16th century



 * 1503 – Construction of the third Vleeshuis, current building, city butchery and guildhouse of the butchers.
 * 1513 – Guild Hall of the Archers built.
 * 1515 – Joyous Entry of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor into the city.
 * 1518 – Notre Dame Cathedral built.
 * 1520 – Het Steen fortress rebuilt.
 * 1523 – Church of St. Andrew built.
 * 1528 – Merten de Keyser (printer) in business (approximate date).
 * 1531 – Opening of the Bourse of Antwerp, the first purpose-built exchange.
 * 1533 – Lancelot II of Ursel saves the Cathedral from total ruin.
 * 1543 – Music publisher Susato in business.
 * 1549 – Philip II of Spain visits city.
 * 1552 – Girls' orphanage built.
 * 1555 – Christophe Plantin (printer) in business.
 * 1560s – Antwerp Citadel built.
 * 1565 – City Hall built.
 * 1566 – August: Protestant Reformation riots.
 * 1567 – 13 March: Battle of Oosterweel occurs near city.
 * 1568
 * Anthony van Stralen, Lord of Merksem, former mayor is executed..
 * Maison Hanseatique built.
 * Population: 125,000.
 * 1570 – Theatrum Orbis Terrarum atlas published.
 * 1571 – Church of St. Paul built.
 * 1572 – Antwerp Citadel completed.
 * 1576 – 4 November: during the Sack of Antwerp, John III van de Werve, Lord of Hovorst gets killed by the Spanish forces.
 * 1577 – Antwerp Citadel partially dismantled.
 * 1579
 * City joins Union of Utrecht.
 * Hall of the Coopers built.
 * 1583 – 17 January: François, Duke of Anjou tries to take city.
 * 1584 – July: Siege of Antwerp begins.
 * 1585Slag op de Kauwensteinse Dijk.JPG, 26 May 1585]]
 * August: Siege of Antwerp ends; Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma in power.
 * Population: 85,000.
 * 1589
 * Church of the Capuchins built.
 * Population: 55,000.
 * 1593 – Hieronymus Verdussen (printer) in business (approximate date).
 * 1594 – Joyous Entry of Archduke Ernest of Austria into the city.
 * 1599 – Isabella and Albert (Habsburg Netherlands sovereigns) make their Joyous Entry into the city.

17th–18th centuries

 * 1603 – Nicolaas II Rockox builds the Rockox House.
 * 1609 – Twelve Years' Truce signed.Erasmus de Bie - View of the Meir.jpg]]
 * 1615 – Church of Augustinians built.
 * 1621 – Carolus Borromeuskerk built.
 * 1635 – Joyous Entry of Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand into the city.
 * 1638 – 20 June: Battle of Kallo.
 * 1644 – House of the Tailors rebuilt.
 * 1646 – Hall of the Carpenters rebuilt.
 * 1646 – Siege of Antwerp by Frederick Henry failed.
 * 1648
 * River Scheldt closed to navigation per Treaty of Münster.
 * Joyous Entry of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria into the city.
 * 1656 – St. James' Church built.
 * 1663 – Royal Academy of Fine Arts founded.
 * 1745 – Royal Residence built on the Meir.
 * 1746 – Osterrieth House built on the Meir.
 * 1750 – Royal Horticultural and Agricultural Society exhibitions begin (approximate date).
 * 1755 – Royal Palace built.
 * 1790 – Population: 40,000.
 * 1795 – City becomes capital of French département Deux-Nèthes.

19th century

 * 1802 – Quays built on Schelde River.
 * 1805 – City Library opens in City Hall.
 * 1810 – Royal Museum of Fine Arts founded.
 * 1811 – Bonaparte Dock built.
 * 1813 – Willem Dock built.
 * 1815 – City becomes part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
 * 1816 – Jewish Community established.
 * 1818 – Fortresses built.
 * 1826 – Orangery built in the Botanical Garden.
 * 1830
 * Conflict between Belgian insurgents and Dutch forces.
 * Population: 73,506.
 * 1832 – November–December: City besieged by French forces.
 * 1834
 * Medical Society founded.
 * Theatre Royal built.
 * 1843 – Zoological Garden founded.
 * 1846 – Population: 88,487.
 * 1848 – Jan Frans Loos becomes mayor.
 * 1852 – Wuyts art gallery opens (approximate date).
 * 1853
 * inaugurated.
 * Church of St. George consecrated.
 * 1859
 * Berchem and Borgerhout become part of city (approximate date).
 * Old city walls dismantled.
 * Fortress construction begins.
 * 1860 – Kattendijk built.
 * 1864 – Museum of Antiquities opens.
 * 1866 – Cholera epidemic.
 * 1867 – School of Music founded.
 * 1870 – Fort Merxem constructed.
 * 1871 – International Geographical Congress held.
 * 1872 – Exchange building and Flemish Theatre built.
 * 1873 – Horsecar trams begin operating.
 * 1874 – Demolition of Antwerp Citadel begins.
 * 1876 – founded.
 * 1877 – Plantin-Moretus Museum opens.
 * 1879 – Population: 173,600.
 * 1880 – Royal Antwerp Football Club formed.
 * 1881 – Antwerp Water Works constructed.
 * 1883 – Library building opens.
 * 1884 – Royal Atheneum (school) built.
 * 1885
 * Exposition Universelle d'Anvers (world's fair) held.
 * Temperance conference held.
 * 1891 – Gazet van Antwerpen newspaper begins publication.
 * 1892 – Société Anversoise du Commerce au Congo in business.
 * 1893
 * (Flemish Opera) founded.
 * Hollandse Synagoge built.
 * 1894 – Exposition Internationale d'Anvers (world's fair) and Universal Peace Congress held.
 * 1895 – Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo in business.
 * 1896 – National Archives' Antwerp branch founded.
 * 1897 –  newspaper begins publication.
 * 1898 – Royal Conservatory established.

20th century

 * 1902 – Electric trams begin operating.
 * 1903 – World Gymnastics Championships held.
 * 1904 – Museum Mayer van den Bergh built.
 * 1905 – Antwerpen-Centraal railway station and "America dock" open.
 * 1906 – Fort Breendonk built.
 * 1907 – Eisenmann Synagogue built.
 * 1910
 * Population: 361,723.
 * St. Boniface Church consecrated.
 * 1914 – September–October: Siege of Antwerp; German occupation begins.
 * 1920
 * 1920 Summer Olympics held.
 * Compagnie Financière Belge des Pétroles headquartered in city.
 * and Société Belge des Bétons founded
 * 1921 – Schoonselhof cemetery established.
 * 1923 – Airport opens.
 * 1928 – Antwerpsche Diamantkring established.
 * 1930 – Eeuwfeestkliniek (hospital) built.
 * 1931 – Antwerp Book Fair begins.
 * 1932 – Boerentoren built.
 * 1933 – Museum of Flemish Literature founded.
 * 1940 – May: German occupation begins.
 * 1944
 * 4 September: Liberation by the British 11th Armoured Division.
 * October–November: Battle of the Scheldt.
 * 1946 – Rubens House museum opens.
 * 1966
 * Sporthal Arena built.
 * Wide White Space Gallery opens.
 * 1967 – Antwerp International School established.
 * 1968 – De Tijd newspaper begins publication.
 * 1969
 * Jazz Middelheim festival begins.
 * Kennedytunnel opens.
 * Royal Ballet of Flanders established.
 * 1970 – Chicagoblok built.
 * 1975
 * Antwerp Pre-metro begins operating.
 * International Gemological Institute headquartered in city.
 * Cinderella´s Ballroom opened
 * 1977 – 't Fornuis restaurant in business.
 * 1981 – Zeno X gallery opens.
 * 1983 – Berchem, Borgerhout, Deurne, Ekeren, Hoboken, Merksem, and Wilrijk become part of the city of Antwerp.
 * 1985 – Museum of Modern Art founded.
 * 1989 – Berendrecht Lock constructed.
 * 1994
 * Laus Polyphoniae festival begins.
 * Switel Hotel fire
 * 1995 – City website launched (Digitale Metropool Antwerpen).

21st century

 * 2003
 * Patrick Janssens becomes mayor.
 * University of Antwerp established.
 * 2004
 * Fotomuseum Antwerp opens.
 * City designated a UNESCO World Book Capital.
 * 2006
 * 0110 concert held.
 * FelixArchief (city archives) and Law Courts building open.
 * 2007
 * Antwerp World Diamond Centre established.
 * shopping center opens.
 * 2011
 * Museum aan de Stroom opens.
 * Population: 507,007.
 * 2013 – Bart De Wever becomes mayor.