The preliminary design for the first phase of the environmental construction at the Droogdokkensite or Dry Docks Site at Het Eilandje has been approved by the City of Antwerp government. It concerns the reconstruction of the public space around Dry Dock 1, where Port World or Havenwereld and a new place for youth will be located in the future. 

This is another step towards turning the Dry Docks site into one large public maritime experience site. If everything goes according to plan, this environmental construction will be ready by the opening of Havenwereld in the spring of 2026.

The Droogdokkensite, between Het Eilandje and the Scheldt Bend, is a unique landscape of 11 hectares with a special industrial and architectural heritage. Today it is bordered by the Scheldt, the Royerssluis (Royers Lock), the Kattendijkdok and the Sasdok. 

In addition to the nine historic, protected dry docks, it contains two large clusters of buildings, two pump houses, two sheds and some smaller scattered outbuildings. The ambition is to turn this area into a large public maritime experience site. 

A master plan for this was drawn up in July 2022. Central to this are the preservation of heritage, knowledge transfer, and bringing visitors closer to the port and the water.

Design

The preliminary design of this first piece of public space was drawn by Sweco. This area is located around Dry Dock 1, which is the southernmost of the nine dry docks.

The current fencing will be removed so that the zone will become permanently accessible to the public. The industrial, rough, mineral character of the site is preserved, just like the cobblestones.

Future trees will be planted and the plane trees that are already there today will remain and receive maintenance. The parking lot on Sluisstraat is also visually separated from the site by extra trees and greenery. ​

A green terrace and play area will be added to the future catering section of Havenwereld. Around dry dock 1, which is being restored, there will be a staircase to relax and enjoy the view of old ships, the restored pump house, the Harbour House (Havenhuis), etc.

Finally, the space north of Dry Dock 1 will also be designed as a new, car-free street with an entrance square to the buildings, and everything will be illuminated.

Alderman for urban development Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “With plenty of public and green space created next to nine historic dry docks and two pump houses, the Dry Docks site will be the place where the city embraces the old port. The approved preliminary design for the redesign of the public space around dry dock 1 is an important step towards the realization of one large public maritime experience site. We are also working on the port experience center ‘Port World’ at this dry dock 1. If everything goes according to plan, the new public space will be ready together with Havenwereld in the spring of 2026.”

De Ridder continues: “At the same time, we can also announce the relocation of the Mercantile Marine Engineering monument to a location to be determined on the Droogdokkensite. This is a monument erected in honor of the ship repairers who died during the World War due to their activities in the resistance, and which is still located on the EDR Antwerp Shipyard site at the Hansadok.”

Timing

The entire redevelopment will be carried out in phases, from south to north. This year, work will start on the construction of Havenwereld, a new port experience center for Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the Province of Antwerp, the restoration of the old pump house, and the construction and restoration of the former boiler factory on the site for a youth work partner. The tender procedure for the restoration of several dry docks is currently underway.

If everything goes according to plan, the new public space around dry dock 1 will be ready by the opening of Havenwereld in the spring of 2026. The complete development of all buildings and public space will take approximately ten years.

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