Trade Fair

This was called the mother of all stock exchanges. In 1531, a building opened in Antwerp that would change the world: the Handelsbeurs. It was the first ever space specifically designed for trade between merchants, moneychangers, and financiers. This made Antwerp the center of international commerce in the 16th century. The rectangular courtyard, surrounded by covered galleries, became the blueprint for future exchanges in London, Amsterdam, and beyond.

Its success lasted until the Fall of Antwerp in 1585. Trade shifted, and the exchange lost its central role. Still, the building remained. After several fires—including a major one in 1858—it was rebuilt in 1872 in a neo-Gothic style with cast-iron structures and a glass roof, designed by architect Joseph Schadde. Until 1997, it again served as a stock exchange before its activities moved to Brussels.

The building fell into disrepair and was closed for years, reopening in 2019 after a major restoration as an event venue. Importantly, this Handelsbeurs is not to be confused with the Oude Beurs in Hofstraat. Here, in the Twaalfmaandenstraat, began a legacy that inspired exchanges around the world. Today, its spirit lives on in cultural and public gatherings.