Recently the restoration of the walking terrace and the hangars between Het Steen and the Noorderterras started on the Antwerp Scheldt Quays. If everything goes smoothly, the walking terrace will reopen next summer, and the work on the hangars will be completed in the spring of 2025. The restoration fits within the long-term project of the complete reconstruction of the Scheldt Quays.

The hangars between Het Steen and the Noorderterras are in urgent need of restoration. A number of adjustments to the construction are also necessary so that the space underneath can become a fully-fledged pleasant living area. The walking terrace behind the hangars also needs to be renovated.

Alderman for Urban Development and chairman of AG Vespa real estate agency Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “The walking terrace between Het Steen and the Noorderterras is getting an Extreme Makeover. Next summer everyone can stroll here on the ‘Kaailine‘ and laze among the greenery and with a view of the Scheldt. At the same time we will start the restoration of the hangars. We tackle the construction where necessary and remove rust. We return to the original colors and create new skylights. In this way, the remains of the old castle wall that we are going to expose will be clearly visible to everyone.”

More daylight

The roofs are stripped of existing layers of paint and rust and given new finishing layers in their original colors. To make the space under the hangars a pleasant place to stay, a few things will be adjusted during the restoration. This involves renewing and enlarging the current skylights, so that more light penetrates into the hangars. In addition, the remains of the castle wall and the St. Walburgis Church receive extra daylight. There will also be acoustic insulation and new lighting.

Walking terrace as a green, pleasant living space

The elevated walking terrace offers a beautiful view of the Scheldt. The walking terrace itself is getting a makeover. The contractor strengthens the structure and renews the floor and balustrade. The latter will have a wooden leaning edge. The walking terrace becomes greener into ‘Kaailine’, a pleasant living space with a robust maritime character and seating areas. 

There will be planting areas with ornamental grasses, perennials and shrubs. All species can withstand a salty climate and can therefore tolerate the wind and drought on the Scheldt.

Timing and design team

If everything goes smoothly, the walking terrace will be completely renovated by the summer of 2024 and will then reopen to the public. The restoration work on the hangars will continue until the spring of 2025. The walking path between the hangars and the flood defense wall will remain accessible to pedestrians during the works.

The design team is Erfgoed en Visie bv in collaboration with Palmbout Urban Landscapes and Tractebel.

Reconstruction of quay area

The restoration of the hangars’ roofs and the walking terrace fits within the redevelopment of the Scheldt quays. In this part of the quay plain, between Het Steen and the Noorderterras, Antwerp’s past will be in the spotlight. Underground remains are made visible again under the historic hangars. The former castle wall is thus exposed across the entire width of the hangars to a depth of 2.7 meters. The Steenplein will be given a green renovation. The existing trees will be retained as much as possible and supplemented with more greenery. The redevelopment of the quay area in this part will follow the restoration of the canopies and the walking terrace.

Scheldt Quays Masterplan

To restore the bond between the city and the Scheldt, the City of Antwerp is working on a large-scale redevelopment of the Scheldt Quays. 

This concerns a strip of almost 7 kilometers, from Droogdokkeneiland in the north to Blue Gate Antwerp in the south. They are fundamentally changing their appearance. The seven different sub-areas are being redeveloped according to the Scheldt Quays Masterplan, which was drawn up on behalf of the city of Antwerp, AG Vespa and De Vlaamse Waterweg nv. 

De Vlaamse Waterweg nv is responsible for the stabilization of the quay wall and the construction of a raised flood barrier. The City of Antwerp and AG Vespa are responsible for the reconstruction of the public domain. The works will be carried out in phases and will take a total of about 15 years.

In 2019, the Belvédère opened in the Droogdokkenpark and the first phase of the redesigned quay area near Sint-Andries and Zuid.

The second phase of the Sint-Andries and Zuid sub-area followed last summer.

Work is currently underway on the preparation, design and realization of the following subzones: the Loodswezen area, the central part between Steenplein and Noorderterras, and Nieuw Zuid.

On the look of Antwerp

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• AREAS OF ANTWERP | St. James’ Church (Sint-Jacobskerk).
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• 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.
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• ANTWERP | New light plan for Het Steen to accentuate castle features.
• ANTWERP | City approves preliminary design for revamped Scheldt Quays’ section from Steenplein to Noorderterras.
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• ANTWERP | Renovation of Scheldt Quays between Sint-Andries and ‘t Zuid.
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• 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.
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• ANTWERP | Bonapartedok to become centre for water sports and recreation.
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• VIDEO | Walking the future Spoorpark between Zurenborg (Antwerp) and Borgerhout.
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• ANTWERP | Rubens House to close on 9 January 2023 and reopen in 2027.
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• ANTWERP | Preliminary design for Masterplan Scheldt’s Linkeroever.
• ANTWERP | Loodswezensite gets temporary green area.
• Antwerp to install recreational pontoon at Bonapartedok.
• 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.
• ANTWERP | Preliminary draft of Strategic Spatial Plan approved.
• ANTWERP | Park Groot Schijn completely finished.