Port History
One of the world's major seaports, the Port of Antwerp is on the Schelde River in Belgium about 55 miles from the North Sea. Probably already inhabited in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD, invading Franks Germanized the region in the 4th and 5th Centuries.
By the 13th Century, Antwerp was a major trade and shipping center. In the 16th Century, occupation by Spain brought a decline to port activity when the Schelde was closed to navigation. Then a temporary union with the Netherlands restored the port when the Schelde was opened, and the Port of Antwerp has continued to grow ever since.
In fact, growth was only briefly interrupted by the two major World Wars. In the 1920s, new petroleum refineries were joined by automobile assembly plants. Industrial expansion picked up after World War II with new larger petroleum refineries and petrochemical industries. Chemical plants appeared in the 1960s.
Port Commerce
The Port of Antwerp is the second largest petrochemical complex the world, overshadowed only by Houston, Texas. Today, other important products include photographic and electronic equipment and the world-famous cut diamond industry. The Port of Antwerp handled more than 182 million ton of cargo in 2007, and in 2005 it was the second largest port in Europe and the fifth largest in the world.
Cruising and Travel
Cruise ships reach the Port of Antwerp in one night from Dutch, English, and French ports. As the cruise industry has grown with the demand for interesting and historic ports, Antwerp’s port has become increasingly popular. Cruises moor just over 300 yards from the historic city centre at a new cruise terminal that welcomes passengers. Most major cruise ship companies visit the Port of Antwerp.
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