The orchestra previously had the following names: Earlier orchestral associations in Antwerp included the Société Royale d’Harmonie d'Anvers, founded in 1814.
In 1895, the Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde (The Antwerp Royal Society for Zoology or KMDA) had the idea for organising zoo concerts.
Gaston Ariën envisioned the formation of a full-time symphony orchestra with its own concert space for Antwerp.
The one space in the city most suitable for the orchestra was the concert hall of the KMDA, which shuttered temporarily for renovations in 1958.
In addition, the then-minister of culture, Karel Poma, had demanded bureaucratic reforms of the orchestra, with the installation of professional management.
The orchestra's most recent chief conductor was Edo de Waart, who had been named to the post in April 2010 with an initial contract of 5 years.