The stars of Antwerp: The Zurenborg District

FROM FARMLAND TO FANTASY

In the middle of the 19th century the population boom in Antwerp made an enlargement of the city necessary. In 1866 Edouard Osy and John Cogels inherited farmland from their father Baron Jean Osy, situated in the Zurenborg area, outside of Antwerp. This district was cut off from the city by the railway line Antwerp-Rosendaal.

In 1876 a new railway station for goods was constructed there. Osy and Cogels realized that the area had a lot of potential for development and sold it to the 'S.A pour la construction du quartier Est d'Anvers (company for the development of the eastern quarter of Antwerp). This company wanted to build new industry here, but already in 1882 the original plan was changed. Apparently, it would be more financially rewarding to build new houses here.

A new company, financed with capital form the Antwerp catholic gentry and bourgeoisie started to urbanize the district and between 1892 and 1900 hundreds of houses were build and offered for rent.

By the end of the 19th century the main avenue was named 'COGELS-OSY' Lei and it became the heart of the new 'rich area' of Antwerp.
Other street names are : Transvaalstraat (named after the visit of Paul Kruger to Antwerp), Dageraadplaats, Velodroomstraat.
There are also several streets, which refer to the Battle of Waterloo: e.g. Waterloostraat.The ZURENBORG District (a.k.a The Cogels-Osy Lei): PRECIOUS or PRETENTIOUS