Fortress wall in Zakstraat

Antwerp’s oldest city wall was probably erected in the eleventh century to replace the earthen wall that was used to defend the fortress. In the fifteenth century, the wall was cut through when Zakstraat was built. Archaeologists were able to study the wall in more detail during works on two newbuilds in 2008-2009. Their survey revealed that the wall extends another seven metres below the current street level and its foundations rest on a layer of natural shells. The fortress wall was incorporated in the two newbuilds and can be seen from the street through the glass wall of the northern façade of the building.