The Boerentoren, first skyscraper

After the First World War, the idea arose in Antwerp to create a modern building that would symbolize progress and a bright future. The area between Schoenmarkt and Eiermarkt, heavily damaged by wartime destruction, was chosen as the location. Here, the Boerentoren was built by the General Banking Association.

The architect behind this project was Jan Van Hoenacker. He used materials such as granite, marble, and copper to give the building a modern and almost futuristic look. At its completion, the tower measured around 90 meters, and after later renovations and additions, it surpassed 100 meters. For its time, this was revolutionary, making Antwerp a pioneer in European skyscraper construction.

During the Second World War, the Boerentoren took on a darker role. The Nazis used the tower as an observation and surveillance post, making it a target for the Allied forces, who attacked it with heavy artillery. Yet the tower survived and endured another war.

After the war, the Boerentoren gained a social function. On the lower floors, there was once a tearoom, and until the late 1960s, people even lived there. Later, a statue of the Virgin Mary was placed on the corner of the tower. By the turn of the millennium, ownership changed due to bank mergers, and the tower was sold to new owners.