Old pictures have a special power, they freeze a moment in time and offer us a direct glimpse into a world we probably experienced. A black‑and‑white portrait of a sternly posed family or a sun‑bleached snapshot of children playing on a dusty street can transport us decades back, igniting our curiosity about who these people were and what their lives felt like.
We’ve gathered some interesting photographs showing life in Europe over the last century. Bored Panda also got in touch with researcher and art critic Arie Amaya-Akkermans to learn more. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
#1 Lower Saxony, Germany, 1899
Image credits: Blätter für Architektur und Kunsthandwerk
#2 Colosseum And Arch Of Constantine, Italy (Est. 1870)
Image credits: Con la luce di Roma
#3 Aarhus, Denmark, 1934
Image credits: Aage Fredslund Andersen
#4 Mechelen, The Cathedral And The Main Square, Belgium, 1926
Image credits: Rol Agency
#5 Lightning Striking The Eiffel Tower, France, 1902
Image credits: Gabriel Loppé
#6 Ss Rex As She Leaves The Port Of Genoa, Italy, 1937
Image credits: Oceanliner Legends
#7 The Alexanderplatz In Berlin, Germany, 1903
Image credits: Parkland Verlag Stuttgart
#8 Vienna 9, Austria, 1895
Image credits: Moehsl, Karl/Austrian National Library
#9 Mechelen, The Former Town Hall, Currently The Post Office, Belgium, 1926
Image credits: Rol Agency
#10 Quimperlé Chambriers Street, France, 1900s
Image credits: Henri Laurent-Nel (Rennes)
#11 Mack Bensin Station, Sweden, 1930s
Image credits: HISTORISKA HEM
#12 Lisbon, Portugal, 1936-1939
Image credits: Franz Grasser
#13 Gondola Along A Jetty At The Ponte Della Paglia In Venice, Italy, 1900
Image credits: Neue Photographische Gesellschaft
#14 Mansion House, United Kingdom, 1870-1880
Image credits: York & Son
#15 City Of Rome - Italy, 1950s
Image credits: R. D. Barry
#16 Hermeti Railway Station, Estonia, 1910s
Image credits: Estonian History Museum Foundation
#17 Brussels, President [doumergue] Leaves The Station, Belgium, 1929
Image credits: Agence Rol. Agence photographique
#18 Corner Of Marstrandsgade And Thorvaldsensgade, Denmark, 1960s
Image credits: aarhusbilleder
#19 Black & White. Østerbrogade, Denmark, 1957
Image credits: wasapp
#20 Flower Market, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1940
Image credits: archief.amsterdam
#21 Saint Anne Of Auray Pilgrimage, France, 1945-1955
Image credits: Loic (Rennes)
#22 Two Young Men In Uniforms Near Telšiai Railway Station, Lithuania, 1900-1940
Image credits: Klaipėdos regioninio valstybės archyvo Telšių filialas
#23 Penthièvre Two Seas Hotel, France, 1900s
Image credits: Laurent-Nel Henri
#24 Bartoszyce On Old Postcard, Poland, 1910
Image credits: Pearls of Poland
#25 Royal Exchange. London, England, 1886
Image credits: Jenny Bergensten
#26 A Very Busy Summer Day At The Slip, United Kingdom, 1915-1922
Image credits: Ronald Studden
#27 Wrocław, Poland, 1899
Image credits: maxuju1
#28 Kochstraße 8, Germany, 1898
Image credits: Blätter für Architektur und Kunsthandwerk
#29 Paris, France, 1960s
Image credits: Ladinek Viktor
#30 Official Opening Of The Museum Of Art Of Catalonia, Spain, 1934
Image credits: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona
#31 Vienna 1, Austria, 1890
Image credits: Austrian National Library
#32 Vienna, Austria, 1930s
Image credits: bildstrecke.at
#33 Carnac Saint-Cornély Fountain, France, 1900s
Image credits: Laurent-Nel Henri
#34 The Cameo Theater In Paris, France, 1925
Image credits: Warner Bros.
#35 1950's. The Mumbles Train Passes The Outside Of Mainline Station Swansea Bay, United Kingdom, 1950s
Image credits: The Return of Swansea Slip Bridge
#36 Oslo, Norway, 1918-1923
Image credits: National Library of Norway
#37 Norway, 1935-1936
Image credits: ads.no
#38 Historical Photograph Of The Hamburger Bahnhof, Germany, 1927
Image credits: State Museums in Berlin
#39 View Of Vratislavova Street, Prague, Czech Republic, 1900s
Image credits: Henry Eckert
#40 Borsigsteg, Berlin, Germany, 1906-1915
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Image credits: maxuju1
