The Antwerp Zoo Aquarium sits inside Antwerp Zoo, right beside Antwerpen-Centraal railway station in Belgium. The building dates back to 1910, when it was designed by Emile Thielens, making it one of the oldest purpose-built aquarium structures still operating at any European zoo.
After a major renovation, the aquarium reopened in April 2015 with a new centerpiece: a roughly 300,000-liter (about 80,000-gallon) reef tank fronted by a curved acrylic viewing window about four meters high. Today the reef display holds about 1,500 fish across roughly 50 species, alongside around 15 types of soft coral, with separate saltwater and freshwater galleries elsewhere in the building.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Antwerp, Belgium
- Opened: 1910 (reef tank renovated and reopened April 2015)
- Size: about 300,000-liter (roughly 80,000-gallon) reef tank
- Species: about 50 reef fish species plus around 15 soft coral species
- Animal count: about 1,500 reef fish
- Annual visitors: part of Antwerp Zoo, which draws roughly 1.1 million visitors a year
- Famous for: one of Europe’s largest living coral reef aquariums
A Century-Old Building Reborn
The aquarium’s home was built in 1910 as part of Antwerp Zoo’s historic expansion, designed by architect Emile Thielens. For decades it housed modest saltwater and freshwater displays typical of early European zoo aquariums.
The building underwent a significant renovation completed in 2015, when Antwerp Zoo unveiled a new reef-style aquarium inside the historic shell. The reopening in April 2015 was marked with a ceremony attended by Antwerp’s mayor, giving the century-old structure a thoroughly modern centerpiece.
Inside the Reef Tank
The main attraction is the large reef tank, viewed through a curved acrylic window roughly four meters high and about 13 centimeters thick. It holds about 1,500 reef fish representing roughly 50 species, including blue-spotted rays, surgeonfish, wrasse, and parrotfish, alongside around 15 species of soft coral such as Sarcophyton and Sinularia.
Zoo divers visit the reef several times a week to feed the fish and clean the viewing window. Beyond the reef display, the aquarium keeps separate saltwater and freshwater sections, letting visitors compare tropical reef species with species from other aquatic habitats in one circuit through the historic building.
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Antwerp Zoo Aquarium FAQs
Is the Antwerp Zoo Aquarium a separate ticket from the zoo?
No, the aquarium is located inside Antwerp Zoo and is included with general zoo admission.
How old is the Antwerp Zoo Aquarium building?
The building dates to 1910, designed by Emile Thielens, making it over a century old, though its interior was fully renovated and reopened with a new reef tank in April 2015.
What kinds of animals are in the Antwerp Zoo Aquarium?
The reef tank holds about 1,500 fish across roughly 50 species, plus around 15 species of soft coral, alongside separate saltwater and freshwater galleries.
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Photo: DRG-fan / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.