Bourse at Antwerp
Antwerp Stock Exchange
TypeCommodity, stock exchange
LocationAntwerp, Belgium
Coordinates51°13′10″N 4°24′22″E / 51.219306°N 4.406111°E / 51.219306; 4.406111
Founded1531 (as a commodity exchange)
1872 (as a stock exchange)
Closed1661 (when the commodity exchange fell into disuse)
1997 (when the stock exchange merged into Brussels Stock Exchange, presently Euronext)

The bourse at Antwerp is a building in Antwerp, Belgium, which was first opened in 1531 as the world's first purpose-built commodity exchange.[1] The Royal Exchange in London was modelled on the Antwerp bourse.[2] The bourse has been described as "the mother of all stock exchanges".[3]

The commodity exchange fell into disuse in the 17th century, following the Fall of Antwerp (1584-1585), when Amsterdam replaced Antwerp as the Low Countries' main trading centre.

Following a fire in 1858, the building was reconstructed, and from 1872 once again served the purpose of housing a bourse, this time as a true stock exchange, the Antwerp Stock Exchange. In 1997 this stock exchange was merged into Brussels Stock Exchange (presently Euronext), and the building was once more abandoned and neglected. Following extensive restoration, the building is now part of a multipurpose events venue known as the Antwerp Trade Fair.

History

1531-1661: Commodity exchange

The building upon completion (1531)

From 1531 to 1661, it was the site of the world's first dedicated commodity exchange.

As Antwerp took over the role of trade center from Bruges, it grew into a large metropolis with more than 100,000 inhabitants, including 10,000 foreign merchants, mostly Spaniards and Portuguese. From 1531 the old bourse was given a new building, conceived as a rectangular square with galleries covered on four sides, built on top of a street intersection. For half a century this exchange would be the focal point of European trade and the model for cities with similar ambitions.

On the initiative of Thomas Gresham, the representative of the English crown in Antwerp, the Royal Exchange, London was opened in 1565 on this model. It was also called "the Bourse" until Queen Elizabeth I, after a visit on January 23, 1570, changed its name to the Royal Exchange.[4] The Middelburg stock exchange was opened in 1592, then Rotterdam in 1595 and Amsterdam in 1611.

The first building in Brabant's late Gothic style dates from 1531, after a design by Domien de Waghemakere. A rectangular open space was enclosed by a colonnade covered with star and net vaults.[5] The gallery concept of this building served as a model for London's Royal Exchange (designed by Hendrik van Paesschen), as well as for Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Lille.[6] The high-rise 'pagoda towers' with octagonal and cylindrical hull may have served as a lookout for the harbor. Every nation had a more or less permanent location at the exchange.[7]

After a fire in 1583, the Bourse was immediately rebuilt to the same plan. The Siege of Antwerp (1584-1585) and the surrender to the 'Spanish' Army of Flanders led to a decline in trade, with Antwerp unable to compete with Amsterdam.

1661-1858: Disuse, various uses

This glass dome was erected over the central court yard in 1853 (1856)

Between 1661 and 1810 the building was used, among other things, as a drawing academy and seat of the Guild of Saint Luke.[8] The open interior space was domed in 1853 by Charles Marcellis, following the example of London's Crystal Palace.

1858-1997: Second fire, reconstruction as a stock exchange

After a second fire on 2 August 1858 had once again destroyed the building, the Antwerp city authorities twice organized a design competition in which the old concept had to be preserved. The current building was finally completed in 1872 by architect Joseph Schadde. It is a remarkable combination of the neo-gothic style and revolutionary techniques, in particular the metal construction for the covering of the interior. The reconstructed building housed Antwerp stock exchange, which opened in 1872. This true stock exchange was used until 1997, when it was merged into the Brussels Stock Exchange.[8]

1997-2019: Abandonment, archaeological excavation and renovations

With the closure of the stock exchange, the building lost its purpose and was abandoned and neglected.[9] Various proposals to redevelop the building went nowhere for fifteen years. The investment file started moving again in October 2013, after a new partner was found: the Marriott hotel chain. A heritage budget was also released from the Flemish government for the restoration of the Bourse.[10] In October 2014, it was announced that the new building application for the project was approved by the city of Antwerp.[11] But at the beginning of December 2014, it became known that various local residents had appealed to the permanent deputation of the province against the building permit. In April 2015, the province confirmed the building permit on the condition of a few adjustments to meet the concerns of local residents.[12]

In February 2016, as part of excavations to convert the site into a Marriott Hotel, various archaeological finds were made. Floor levels, walls, and a fireplace/oven from the late Middle Ages were found. Pile pits were also found under a number of walls that probably point to medieval timber construction. Dark gray sand was also found, indicating medieval garden and / or agriculture. The most remarkable find, however, was the discovery of some urns dating from the Iron Age. When the excavations and archaeological investigation are completed, an underground parking garage would be built under the former Bourse.[13]

2019-present: Multipurpose venue

Present use of the trading floor as an event venue, after renovations completed in 2019 (2022)

After a long and intensive renovation, it was reopened in October 2019 as an events venue (Antwerp Trade Fair) with restaurant, hotel and public passage.[14] The ground floor with its beautiful central square is open to the public from Saturday to Sunday, between 10:00 and 17:00.[15]

The building was used as a venue for the 2021 World Choir Games, co-hosted by Antwerp and Ghent. [16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lockard, Craig (2021). Societies, Networks, and Transitions. Boston: Cengage. p. 367. ISBN 9780357365304.
  2. ↑ "Royal Exchange, London". www.walklondon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  3. ↑ "Antwerp Bourse--World's Oldest--Closes". Los Angeles Times. 1997-12-31. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  4. ↑ British-history.ac.uk: Old and New London: Chapter XLII, The Royal Exchange (Walter Thornbury, 1878)
  5. ↑ J. Denucé, "De Beurs van Antwerpen, oorsprong en eerste ontwikkeling, 15e en 16e eeuwen", Antwerpsch Archievenblad. Antwerpen, Dienst der Stadsarchieven, 1931, pp. 80-145.
  6. ↑ Sonja Anna Meseure (1987), Die Architektur der Antwerpener Börse und der europäische Börsenbau im 19. Jahrhundert, Scaneg, München
  7. ↑ Joey De Keyser (2007), De visie van vreemdelingen op de Zuidelijke Nederlanden in de late middeleeuwen en de renaissance, Masterproef Universiteit Gent
  8. 1 2 Fiche Handelsbeurs (ID: 6243); Inventaris van het Bouwkundig Erfgoed. Consulted 28 Feb. 2014.
  9. ↑ Handelsbeurs lijdt onder extreme verwaarlozing, Gazet van Antwerpen, 10 June 2011.
  10. ↑ Handelsbeurs wordt vijfsterrenhotel, Het Nieuwsblad, 9 Oct. 2013.
  11. ↑ Groen licht voor Handelsbeurs, Gazet van Antwerpen, 24 Oct. 2014.
  12. ↑ Handelsbeurs mag luxehotel worden, Het Laatste Nieuws, 10 Apr. 2015
  13. ↑ Waardevolle resten uit middeleeuwen en ijzertijd gevonden onder handelsbeurs, Gazet van Antwerpen, 16 Feb. 2016.
  14. ↑ Antwerpen moest vijftien jaar wachten, maar daar is de Handelsbeurs weer in volle glorie, Gazet van Antwerpen, 4 October 2019
  15. ↑ "New Exchange Handelsbeurs". Visit Antwerp. 2020.
  16. ↑ "World Choir Games 2021". World Choir Games 2021. 2021.

51°13′10″N 4°24′22″E / 51.219306°N 4.406111°E / 51.219306; 4.406111


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