Belgium's grandest railway station in Antwerp!

If I don't go and explain it, you might take one look at this majestic architecture and mistake it for a church — and who could blame you? Even the local Dutch nickname, “Spoorwegkathedraal,” recognizes the church-like features of Antwerpen-Centraal railway station.

When I first arrived here, I had to take three escalators just to reach mean sea level. Above, a bright naturally lit roof guides your eyes toward the higher levels of the building, and justifiably so, because there is so much detail to unravel.

From a purely architectural standpoint, these design elements cannot be defined by a single word, but rather by a blend of Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque styles. These are characterized by striking angular facades, ornate symmetry, and rounded arches. Even within these visuals alone, you can grasp the lavishness and grandeur that this building boasts. It is as admirable as it is unfortunate that much of its financing was tied to the colonial exploitation of the 19th-century Congo Free State in Africa.

An artifact of immortality lies in seeing people etch their names into stone and monuments in general, which I suppose reflects a deeply human desire: that a building of such magnificence remains attached to the people who use it, pass through it, or simply arrive to admire it.

Outside, the station remains just as remarkable, with a huge concrete dome reminiscent of the Pantheon, alongside the added functionality of an underground rail network that welcomes everyone with a solemn hand of peace, surrounded by pieces of intricate craftsmanship.

I suppose the only thing missing here is platform 9 3/4 and we will have the complete package for the magical enitity that this station already looks like!

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