Railroad Cathedral: Antwerp Train Station

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we appreciate Antwerp Central Railway Station’s distinct grandeur.

The central dome tower, with its massive fan-light window, and the two smaller towers, are the main distinguishing features of Antwerp Central Railway Station’s exterior. The structure’s grandeur is most prominent in the ribbed copper roof covering the dome and the gilded cupola above it. A decorative glass and iron fanlight allows natural light to flood the interior of the historic entrance hall. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

A majestic presentation of baroque-medieval eclectic architecture, Antwerp Central Railway Station’s historic stone structure looms large and impressive in the heart of Antwerp, a city about 30 miles north of Brussels, Belgium’s capital.

Begun in 1895 and inaugurated in 1905, the station was conceptualized by Belgium architect Louis Delacenserie (1838–1909). Delacenserie was part of the Belgian Gothic Revival movement, which focused on elaborately decorative stonework, finials, and tall narrow lancet windows. The station’s regal design reflects the project’s initiation by Belgium’s then-king, Leopold II (1835–1909).