Het Steen is Antwerp‘s oldest surviving building, a medieval fortress on the Scheldt riverfront that now serves as the city’s visitor centre. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
This guide was updated in August 2026. The walking terrace and historic hangars beside Het Steen, closed for several years during restoration, reopened to the public in July 2026 with new seating and over 2,000 plants.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily, 10:00–18:00. Closed 1 January and 25 December |
| Ticket prices | Visitor centre and rooftop: free. The Antwerp Story exhibit: €7.00 adults, €5.00 ages 6–18 |
| Address | Steenplein 1, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium |
| Nearest transport | Groenplaats premetro station, about a 5-minute walk; Melkmarkt tram stop nearby |
| Typical visit length | 45 minutes to 1.5 hours |
Het Steen opening hours
Het Steen’s visitor centre, free exhibition areas, and rooftop terrace are open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. The building is closed only on 1 January and 25 December.
The ticketed Antwerp Story exhibit operates within these same hours. Booking a time slot online is recommended in peak season, though not always required.
Five great things to do in Antwerp
- 🍺 Taste fantastic local beers – on an Antwerp brewing heritage tour.
- 🌙 Enjoy an evening walking tour – and discover Antwerp’s dark side.
- 🚢 See the ships industry and sights in Europe’s second-biggest port – on a harbour cruise.
- 🚲 Take a bike tour – and cover more of Antwerp’s highlights.
- 📖 Learn Antwerp’s best stories and legends – on a walking tour.
Het Steen ticket prices
Unlike other European castles, such as Trausnitz Castle in Germany and Gibralfaro Castle in Malaga, Het Steen doesn’t primarily operate as a castle any more.
Entry to the visitor centre, the panoramic rooftop, and the building’s exterior areas is free for everyone, at any time.
The Antwerp Story, an interactive exhibit spread across 11 rooms, costs €7.00 for adults and €5.00 for ages 6 to 18. Children under 6 go free.
Het Steen is included in the Antwerp City Pass, a card covering around 20 venues across the city, including several museums, historic churches, and paid attractions. The pass costs €45 for 24 hours, €55 for 48 hours, or €65 for 72 hours. It also includes free travel on the city’s trams and buses.
Until the end of October 2026, a free archaeology exhibition, “At Home in Medieval Antwerp”, runs daily in the second-floor lounge, without needing an Antwerp Story ticket.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
How to get to Het Steen
The nearest public transport hub is Groenplaats premetro station, served by trams 3, 5, 9 and 15, about a 5-minute walk away. The Melkmarkt tram stop is a similar distance on foot.
From Antwerpen-Centraal railway station, take a tram towards Groenplaats, then walk north-west towards the river. The walk from the Grote Markt takes about 5 minutes.
A free ferry to Linkeroever, on the opposite bank of the Scheldt, departs from the jetty directly beside Het Steen.
Parking near Het Steen
There is no dedicated visitor car park at Het Steen itself. The nearest public car parks are at Sint-Katelijnevest, Groenplaats, and Sint-Jansvliet, all within a 10-minute walk.
Driving into this part of the historic centre is generally discouraged, since it falls within Antwerp’s low-emission and largely pedestrianised zone.
How long to spend at Het Steen
Most visitors need 45 minutes to an hour for the free visitor centre, exterior, and rooftop terrace alone.
Add the Antwerp Story exhibit, which takes about 60 minutes, for a fuller visit of roughly 1.5 hours in total.
Accessibility at Het Steen
Het Steen is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility, with seating and chairs placed at various points throughout the building.
The rooftop terrace is reached mainly by stairs, so visitors who need step-free access should check current arrangements with staff on arrival.
Inside Het Steen: what to see
Het Steen was built between 1200 and 1225 as the gatehouse of Antwerp’s original castle, later rebuilt under Emperor Charles V around 1520. It has since served as a courthouse, prison, and maritime museum.
The Antwerp Story leads visitors through 11 rooms covering the city’s history, neighbourhoods, and famous residents, ending on the rooftop terrace with views over the Scheldt.
De Gulle Waard, a contemporary bronze sculpture in the courtyard, reinterprets the small “Semini” fertility carving above the old gatehouse. Outside, the statue of Lange Wapper, a folkloric giant from Antwerp legend, stands near the entrance bridge.
The recently reopened walking terrace and hangars beside the fortress offer river views, seating, and green space along the Scheldt.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Visit the free rooftop terrace even if you skip the Antwerp Story, for wide views over the river at no cost. |
| Book Antwerp Story tickets online in advance during busy summer weekends to avoid queuing. |
| Take the free ferry across the Scheldt for a classic view of the Antwerp skyline from Linkeroever. |
| Combine your visit with a walk to the nearby Grote Markt and Brabo Fountain, five minutes away. |
| Check the second-floor lounge for the free archaeology exhibition running until the end of October 2026. |
Frequently asked questions about Het Steen
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Het Steen suitable for children? | Yes, the Antwerp Story is designed for both children and adults. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Booking online is recommended for peak times, though not always required. |
| Is Het Steen open on Sundays? | Yes, it is open daily, including Sundays and most public holidays. |
| Is the rooftop terrace free? | Yes, the rooftop and visitor centre are free; only the Antwerp Story exhibit is ticketed. |
| Is Het Steen wheelchair accessible? | Mostly; the ground floor is accessible, though the rooftop is reached by stairs. |
Things to do near Het Steen
The Grote Markt and Brabo Fountain, Antwerp’s historic main square, are about a 5-minute walk away. The Cathedral of Our Lady, Belgium’s largest Gothic cathedral, is a similar distance on foot.
The MAS (Museum aan de Stroom), with its own free panoramic viewpoint, lies a 10 to 15-minute walk north along the river. The Vleeshuis guildhall and the historic Vlaeykensgang alley are both within a few minutes of Het Steen.
The free ferry to Linkeroever offers a quick trip across the Scheldt for skyline views back towards the city.
Alternative attractions
The Gravensteen in Ghent, about 50 minutes away, is a well-preserved medieval castle open for a full self-guided tour with an audio guide. The Belfry of Bruges, roughly an hour and 15 minutes away, offers panoramic tower views over another historic Flemish city centre.
Kasteel van Gaasbeek, a moated castle near Brussels, is around an hour away and combines historic interiors with parkland gardens. Beersel Castle, also near Brussels and about an hour away, is one of the few Belgian castles to survive largely unaltered since the Middle Ages.
The Citadel of Namur, overlooking the meeting point of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, is about 1 hour and 45 minutes away and offers a larger fortified site to explore.
More Belgium travel
Other Belgium travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What you need to know before visiting the Groeninge Museum in Bruges.
- Ghent attraction guides: The Ghent Belfry, Gravensteen, St Bavo’s Cathedral and Ghent’s Museum of Fine Art.
- Plan your visit to the Bastogne War Museum.
- Everything you need to know before visiting the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres.
- All the key information for visiting Bouillon Castle in the Belgian Ardennes.
