IV.

History

A.

Early Development

Antwerp became a port of commercial importance in the 15th century, when the first European stock exchange was founded in the city, and it rapidly became one of the foremost trading and manufacturing centres in Europe. During the early 16th century, the diamond industry was expanded by the arrival of skilled Jewish artisans expelled from Portugal. The city was also an active cultural and intellectual centre: the painter Anthony van Dyck was born there in 1599. Antwerp rapidly declined as a result of religious troubles after 1576, the year mutinous Spanish troops sacked the city. Another attack followed in 1584, and the city was forced to surrender to the Spanish in the following year. In 1648 Antwerp suffered a further blow under the provisions of the treaty known as the Peace of Westphalia, which closed the Schelde River to navigation; it was re-opened by the French in 1795.

B.

Modern City

The development of the modern city started in 1863 when the Belgians redeemed their navigation rights by making a cash payment to the Netherlands. Antwerp was occupied by the Germans during both world wars; in September 1944, it became an Allied supply base and was heavily bombed. Because the Schelde estuary was not cleared of German forces until March 1945, the use of Antwerp as an Allied supply port was limited. The city grew in importance after World War II and, in 1993, was nominated Cultural Capital of Europe.