The Van Putlei was laid out in 1904 as part of a new subdivision. The aim was to create a distinguished residential district intended for the upper middle class. The 'roundabout' at the intersection of Bosmanslei and Van Putlei formed the centre of the new district.
Residents of the street included businessmen and company executives. Residents included those from the maritime sector, bankers, consuls, magistrates and senior military officers, as well as the usual pensioners. A separate category were the artists who settled in the district, including painters, musicians as well as literary artists.
The street is named after Jozef Cornelis Van Put, mayor of Antwerp from 1863 to 1872.
The buildings consist of distinguished middle-class houses, interspersed with spacious semi-detached town houses. In character, the streetscape is largely determined by the eclectic style, inspired by the French classicism, Louis XIV or régence style.