The City of Antwerp is working on a new spatial plan for Antwerp that meets all the spatial challenges facing the city. This strategic vision will guide and shape the spatial development of the city in the coming decades. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the preliminary design for the Strategic Spatial Plan (Strategisch Ruimteplan) for Antwerp. The broad substantive lines from the concept note will be retained and a new policy framework will be developed.

The Antwerp Strategic Spatial Plan is based on the central ambition to be the most livable city in Flanders, which strives for a high quality of life for its residents and visitors.

Alderman for Spatial Planning and Urban Development Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “As a particularly dynamic city, Antwerp underwent many urban transformations over the centuries, each more historic and spectacular than the next. Urban renewal was and is therefore in our Antwerp blood. That story is far from over. In order to provide a good answer to all spatial challenges, we are providing a solid update of the spatial vision for the city with the Strategic Spatial Plan for Antwerp. This spatial plan has a time horizon of 2040 and aims to further develop our beautiful city as a dynamic and innovative residential and network city within a resilient landscape. So with the SRA we are looking Smart Spatially Ambitious at the city of tomorrow!”

Vibrant residential city, resilient landscape and smart network city

The spatial plan defines three layers that determine the quality of life in the city from a spatial perspective: lively residential city, resilient landscape and smart network city. 

The ambitions are:

• A high-quality and healthy living environment in which everyone feels at home, with a housing offer that meets their needs, close to amenities.
• More space for greenery and water makes the city resilient and liveable for people, plants and animals.
• A pocket-sized metropolis, connected to the region, with the right functional and mobility links.

Area-oriented policy

The spatial plan focuses on seven sub-areas, each with its own identity:

• Scheldt, including the left and right banks of the river;
• Intra Muros, the area within the Ring;
• Across the Ring, the area of De Grote Verbinding (The Great Connection) in the Ring Zone;
• 20th Century Belt, the area outside the Ring;
• Linkeroever (Left Bank);
• Northern districts of Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo and Ekeren;
• Harbour Edges and Canal Zone.

Medium-term policy framework

The preliminary design defines a new policy framework, ‘Giving space to the City of Tomorrow‘ (‘Ruimte geven aan de Stad van Morgen‘), which focuses on, among other things:

• The Antwerp construction shift, with strategic urban renewal that preserves as much open space as possible;
• Strong and livable neighbourhoods;
• More space for greenery, water and the energy transition;
• Ring City with Ring Parks.

Further steps

The design will be provisionally adopted in the autumn of 2023, after which the public inquiry will start. The ambition is to deliver the final SRA by early 2024.

More information about the Antwerp Strategic Spatial Plan can be found at www.antwerpenmorgen.be/sra, and the preliminary draft can also be downloaded there.

On the look of Antwerp

• AREAS OF ANTWERP | St. Paul’s Church (Sint-Pauluskerk).
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | Scheldekaaien or Scheldt Quays.
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | Zurenborg.
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | Cogels-Osylei between Berchem and Antwerp’s Zurenborg neighbourhood.
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | De Gerlachekaai at the Scheldt.
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | Sint-Andriesplein.
• ANTWERP | Murals to return to Voetgangerstunnel.
• ANTWERP | Instant divide over Daniel Libeskind’s transformation design for Boerentoren.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Borgerhout.
• Rainbow zebra crossings of Antwerp.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Berchem.
• ANTWERP | City approves preliminary design for revamped Scheldt Quays’ section from Steenplein to Noorderterras.
• ANTWERP | Part of Scheldepark / Schipperspark / Zuidpark at Gedempte Zuiderdokken now open.
• ANTWERP | Major revamp of the Meirbrug – Suikerrui – Scheldt Quays axis to complete the Via Sinjoor.
• ANTWERP | Looking for Linkeroever Railway Station.
• ANTWERP | Renovation of Scheldt Quays between Sint-Andries and ‘t Zuid.
• ANTWERP | Final design revealed for Scheldt Quays at Nieuw Zuid.
• ANTWERP | 2023-2024 Park Gedempte Zuiderdokken to have grass and water.
• ANTWERP | City forest, orchard and pond for Nieuw Zuid Scheldt Quays by 2024.
• ANTWERP | Groenplaats to become green again.
• A sneak peek into Antwerp’s renovated City Hall.
• Redesigning Antwerp’s central Scheldt Quays between Noorderterras and Zuiderterras.
• Borsbeek to become Antwerp’s 10th district.
• Antwerp’s Droogdokkensite redeveloped into maritime experience area.
• VIDEO | The renovation of Antwerp City Hall.
• Antwerp-Central Railway Station to get new facade lights.
• Antwerp’s renewed Scheldt Quays at Loodswezen to get World War II victims memorial.
• ANTWERP | Bonapartedok to become centre for water sports and recreation.
• PHOTOS | Het Steen, Antwerp’s new Visitor Centre.
• VIDEO | Walking the future Spoorpark between Zurenborg (Antwerp) and Borgerhout.
• 5 spots in Antwerp to soak up the sun for free.
• VIDEO | Sunset over Antwerp’s Scheldt river.
• Antwerp to be car-free by 2024?.
• BOOK | ‘Antwerp. An Archaeological View on the Origin of the City’ by Tim Bellens.
• Antwerp landmark Boerentoren to become Art & Culture Tower by 2027.
• Antwerp to get a pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the Scheldt.
• VIDEO | Bicycle ramp for Parkbrug at Park Spoor Noord / ‘t Eilandje in Antwerp opened.
• VIDEO | Antwerp researching old castle at Noorderterras.
• VIDEO | Pedestrian bridge in Antwerp’s Stadspark restored.
• Antwerp’s Rubens House to have new visitor centre by 2024.
• ANTWERP | Rubens House to close on 9 January 2023 and reopen in 2027.
• Noorderterras to become Kaailine, Antwerp’s New York-inspired High Line.
• Antwerp’s City Theatre Stadsschouwburg to be demolished, new playhouse elsewhere.
• ANTWERP | Wapper near Meir and Rubens House to be renovated into a contemporary and climate-robust city square.
• ANTWERP | Schuttershofstraat to become fully pedestrian shopping street.
• ANTWERP | Zuidpark to be completed by 2024.
• ANTWERP | Construction of Park Groot Schijn enters final phase.
• Antwerp lists Wolvenberg-Brilschans in Berchem now as nature reserve.
• ANTWERP | Preliminary design for revamped Stadspark approved.
• ANTWERP | Preliminary design for Masterplan Scheldt’s Linkeroever.
• ANTWERP | Loodswezensite gets temporary green area.
• ANTWERP | Phases 2 and 3 for Zuidpark.
• Antwerp to install recreational pontoon at Bonapartedok.
• ANTWERP | Brabo Fountain being restored.
• ANTWERP | Design team for reconstruction of Wapper chosen.
• Antwerp to redevelop Sint-Anneke Beach.
• ANTWERP | Landmark protection of two historic Scheldt harbour cranes confirmed.
• ANTWERP | Procedure for cyclists and pedestrian Scheldt Bridge to be elaborated.