On Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September, a new street culture festival will take place in Park Spoor Noord under the brand Streetmates. It brings the spectacular and international World Chase Tag back to Antwerp, as well as an open youth championship 3×3, and the first major sneaker fair in the city. 

Many more urban sports, graffiti and hip-hop will provide a unique atmosphere. All this in collaboration with Sporting A and organizations active in the Antwerp street culture scene.

​Streetmates is an accessible festival for a growing, fascinating and diverse community. For them, sport is a way of expressing themselves and part of a way of life that also includes music and fashion. Streetmates bundles urban sports, fashion, art and music.

Graffiti artist Rise from Aerosol Kings, the Skateboard Academy, Unboxed Sneakers and other partners sketched a picture of Antwerp street culture and Streetmates at the launch today.

Peter Wouters (N-VA), Alderman for Sport: “Urban sports are an integral part of Antwerp’s street scene and sports policy. Sporting A has been focusing on customized infrastructure and urban events at a local and (inter)national level for years. As a city, we want to continue to play that pioneering role in urban youth culture and the urban sports scene. A street culture festival belongs in a super diverse metropolis like Antwerp. Streetmates captures very well what is going on in the community and pours this into a connecting and representative concept, based on the key values of street culture. Moreover, Streetmates is open to everyone, including visitors who at first glance have little common ground with this world. They get the chance to discover urban sports and close the gap in their urban culture.”

Streetmates is largely a free festival. Visitors can come and enjoy all urban sports on 2 and 3 September without paying an entrance fee, including music and art. Only participating in the 3×3 basket (30 euros/team) is paying.

Sven Van den Abbeele of the organizing sports agency Stick Together: “It is important to work with Antwerp and authentic partners. They know and feel the street culture best. Freedom and creativity are values that connect them. We have to respect that, because that street community has to feel at home on Straatgenoten. On the other hand, we also want to let other Antwerp residents taste some cool urban sports and immerse themselves in a wonderful atmosphere. Watch, enjoy and participate. Everything is possible!”

You can read all current information and register for the 3×3 at www.straatgenoten.be.

Sports programme of Saturday 2 September

• World Chase Tag. An international round of this spectacular branch of parkour. Tag 2.0 in an arena with obstacles. Eight foreign teams compete for victory and a place at the World Cup. It is only the second time that this competition visits Belgium.
• Antwerp square basketball championship 3×3 All young people between 10 and 18 years old can register for the first open Antwerp championship 3×3 basket. Participants have to be fast because 3×3 is popular, especially in Antwerp. The finalists in each category will be coached by the world class players of Team Belgium 3×3.
• Free skate boarding. Initiations and demos will be given both in the covered skate park and in the renewed skate bowl of Park Spoor Noord. And everyone can skate freely.
• Urban circus. ​Ell Circo d’ell Fuego gives trapeze workshops for children. The Antwerp urban circus collective also gives short demos and shows.
• Long board dancing. ​Tricks and rhythm on a longboard. Anyone can participate in a workshop of this new and unknown discipline.
• ​Breaking. The mini-droids of the Antwerp breakdance crew Battle Droids perform two short acts. They won the hearts of all of Flanders by winning ‘Belgium’s Got Talent‘.
• Climbing. Not a pronounced urban sport, but Rising You also opens its climbing wall. Everyone can try to climb up for free and secured.

​Sneakers

The Antwerp residents of Unboxed are passionate about sneakers. After the first sneaker fair in Hoboken last year, they now see it bigger. Sneakerheads no longer have to go to the Netherlands for the most exclusive pair. All enthusiasts are welcome to come and see and buy at the fair.

Music and art

Hip-hop and R&B DJs and graffiti provide even more vibes and colour.

Food and drinks

Some food trucks serve street food. The sun and the cozy terraces do the rest.

Sports on Sunday 3 September

• Initiation 3×3. ​Antwerp youth receive a free initiation 3×3 basket from coaches Steve Ibens and Peter Ibens.
• ​Workshops World Chase Tag. Antwerp associations and clubs get the chance to practice in the official World Chase Tag arena. Some international toppers teach.

Sneakers

The Unboxed Sneaker fair is also open on Sunday.