0-euro notes : 1 h. Belgium : Antwerp - 2

Walking down from the trainstation in Antwerp (Belgium) trough the main shoppingstreet, towards the market square with the cathedral (see : https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2020/07/0-euro-notes-1-f-belgium-antwerp.html), a hidden treasure can be found.

Like all mayor cities, Antwerp had a big event hall in the centre, to host meetings, concerts, ...
The 'stadsfeestzaal' (city party hall) was a monumental project to glorify the appearance of Antwerp at the end of the 19th century. It took about 8 years and 400,000 belgian francs (app. 10,000 euro nowadays), to complete the majestic hall.

'Stadsfeestzaal' in  1908

This pearl in the heart of Antwerp, was used as event hall, concert hall, .... throughout the years. In the last days of the 20th century, an urgent upgrade and renovation was mandatory.
Although the 'stadsfeestzaal' survived two world wars, renovation works turned out to be a greater trial, as the hall set fire in december 2000.

The inferno destroyed nearly the whole place, and only the exterior walls and the metal roof construction survived.

'Stadsfeestzaal' in 2001

But aren't the belgians the bravest of all the gauls....  The planned renovation works took longer than foreseen, and no expense was spared to return the hall into its former glory.

'Stadsfeestzaal' in 2006

The result of the restauration works, was shown to the people in 2007, when the renewed 'feestzaal' was inaugurated again. The sides on the ground floor were turned into fancy shops and the balcony on the first floor became a walkway to newly created shops.

'Stadsfeestzaal' in 2020

In 2021, a 0-euro note was issued to commemorate the 'stadsfeestzaal'. The amazing interior however, is not depiced, but we see the - original - entrance gate at the 'Meir-street'.

Entrance of the 'stadsfeestzaal' (Meir)

0-euro note 'Stadsfeestzaal'

0-euro note 'stadsfeestzaal' - detail

 
The note can be bought inside the hall.

The design of this note ( + common design on the back side) - has some new features, compared to the 'older' notes.

The 2021-note has 5 stars on the right hand side, and the watermark is visually printed in the left corner.
Additional text is added on both left and right side border 'Euro Souvenir'.
On the back side, the € - sign is slightly lighter printed, but the Belem tower, the Brandenburger Tower and the Colloseum, are printed more clearly.
A remarkable change is the statue of 'Manneke Pis' which turned from purple to olive brown.

some changes in the 2021 - design

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 ...