Zurenborg & Cogels-Osylei

Zurenborg is an area covering parts of southeastern Antwerp and the adjacent district of Berchem. It is internationally renowned for having one of the highest concentrations of townhouses in the elegant fin de siècle styles, including Art Nouveau, Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance, and eclectic architectural approaches.

The undisputed centerpiece of Zurenborg is the Cogels-Osylei, often described as the most beautiful street in Antwerp. Developed at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, wealthy citizens commissioned prominent architects to construct ostentatious mansions that served as status symbols. Consequently, a walk down this grand boulevard is akin to exploring an open-air architecture museum.

Each home on the Cogels-Osylei and its surrounding streets—such as Waterloostraat and Transvaalstraat—has its own unique personality, often adorned with elaborate wrought-iron balconies, colorful mosaics, whimsical turrets, and intricate stonework. While central Antwerp highlights its rich history and contemporary edge, Zurenborg offers a serene and awe-inspiring glimpse into a romantic, bygone era of bourgeois splendor.