Meir, Antwerp
 Meir shopping street | |
| Namesake | From "meer" (lake) |
|---|---|
| Length | 700 m (2,300 ft) |
| Location | Antwerp |
| Postal code | 2000 |
| Nearest metro station | Meir |
| Coordinates | 51°13′5″N4°24′31″E/ 51.21806°N 4.40861°E |
| West end | Meirbrug |
| East end | Teniersplaats |
Meiris the main shopping street inAntwerp,Belgium.It is the most important shopping area in the country, both by number of shoppers and by rent prices.[1]The street has been mostlypedestrianisedsince 1993 and is said to be the Belgian equivalent to New York's 5th Avenue.
In the centre of Antwerp, Meir connects theAntwerp City Hallwith the trains atAntwerp Central Station.
Between 2002 and 2004, it was the most expensive shopping street in theBenelux.Since the opening of the historic Stadsfeestzaal shopping centre in 2007, Meir regained that position. It has the highest rents of any street in Belgium, at 1,700 €/square metre/year.[2]
The name comes from the old Dutch word "meere" (lake). Meir used to be a so-called "wood lake" (houtmeer), where wood destined for use in furniture would be kept wet for a time.[3]
Historical buildings
[edit]- Meir 50: Royal Residence, built in 1745, served as the Antwerp residence of theKings of Belgium.
- Meir 85: Osterrieth House, built in 1746 in fullrococostyle.
Surroundings
[edit]- Bourla Theatre,Neoclassicaltheatre built in 1827 and 1834 by architectPierre Bruno Bourla.
- Antwerp Central Station,completed 1905 in an eclectic style.
- Antwerp City Hall,completed 1564, inFlemish-ItalianRenaissancestyle.
- Trading Exchange, reconstruction of one of the world's first stock exchanges built in 1531.
- Rubens House,historical home of the painterPeter Paul Rubens.
References
[edit]- ^Meir klopt voor het eerst Nieuwstraat als drukste winkelstraat 10 March 2010
- ^High streets – the rental hit parade10 March 2010
- ^Historiek der straten en openbare plaatsen van Antwerpen,Thijs A, 1973, Antwerp (in dutch)
External links
[edit]
Media related toMeir (Antwerp)at Wikimedia Commons