0-euro notes : 1 h. Belgium : Antwerp

As a kid, I travelled to London with school, I remember in the old days, we visited the usual tourist  attractions, and near the entrance of most buildings, there was the possibility to buy a souvenir coin of that specific building.
Many years later, I still have those 'medals' and some of them shifted colour over the years.

Those items are not that fancy anymore, and in the end also heavy and big to collect.
The 0-euro notes remind me of that time.
I'm still a collector and the wide variety of 0-euro notes, and the availability of a catalogue, makes collecting fun again.

Today's topic is about Antwerp (or Antwerpen in dutch). A Belgian city in the flemish (dutch speaking area of Belgium). Antwerp is know as one of the largest harbour cities in Europe, it's diamond industry, and his rich history, especially in the 17th and 18th century.
It is the home city of Pieter Paul Rubens, the famous baroque painter.

The first 0 € note of today, represents the square 'Groenplaats' near the cathedral.
Although the note is titled 'Cathedral of Our Lady', the central image on the note, is the statue of P.P. Rubens.

0 euro note 'Cathedral of Antwerp'

Rubens was born in Siegen (Germany in 1577) and moved to Antwerp where he also died in 1640.
A bit odd is the date mentionned on the top of the note : 'anno 1518'.

Antwerp anno 1518 ?

The cathedral as depicted, was finished around 1521. In 1518 the square might have looked like depicted, but at that time, Rubens was not born yet. The date can refer to the cathedral at that time, but certainly not to the square view in 1518.

Rubens is world wide know for his paintings of religious scenes, but as well for his portraits.
He often depicted volumtious women, a sign of wealth and beauty at that time. Also famous, is his 'selfie', or auto-portrait, with wide hat.

Rubens auto-portrait, on various stamps.

The cathedral was ment to have two towers, but the plans of 1565 were never executed. A fire in 1533 and the costs for the renovation,  as wel as the rise of protestantism, which led to less income for the church, resulted that the secodnd tower never was built.

  

plans for a second tower 1565

Cathedral now

to be continued ...