The Antwerp Council of Mayor and Aldermen has approved the final design for the reconstruction of the Wapper. The elongated square centrally located on the Meir will be transformed into a new and contemporary city square with wide walking spaces, greenery and a large water feature. This makes it a logical and inviting link on Via Sinjoor. The works will start in the spring of 2026.

The final design shows the assets of the new Wapper.

• There will be wide walking spaces along the facades of at least 5 metres wide, so that passers-by can easily cross the square, even during busy weekends. There is also sufficient space for the fire brigade and loading and unloading on the square (within the window times).
• Staying in the middle of the square is central. Here, space is provided for, among other things, island terraces and benches with a view of the water or the iconic Rubens House.
• The entire square will have extra greenery, with three large colorful planting areas and also trees that will grow in the longer term and thus provide shade for the terraces and seating areas.
• The most striking element is the long, central water feature. It runs from Hopland to the Meir, where it ends in a play fountain. It brings the historic moult back to life and at the same time provides water buffering and cooling. The water feature has a width of approximately 6 meters and a length of 130 meters, with a wide passage in various places.

Alderman for Public domain Erica Caluwaerts (OL-A): “The iconic Wapper square is getting a trendy new look. More greenery, a new water element and extra attention to the rich past of the Rubens House are among the building blocks of this redevelopment. The renewal of the Wapper invites Antwerp residents and visitors to our city to enjoy our Via Sinjoor, the walking connection between our beautiful Central Station and Het Steen at the Scheldt.“

The Scheldt as a source of inspiration

The different zones of the water feature refer to parts of the Scheldt:

• On the Hopland side, water plants will act as a filter, inspired by the planted source of the Scheldt. The plant filter purifies the collected rainwater before it flows off towards the Meir.
• The planting areas along which the water flows in the middle part refer to the green river basin of the Scheldt.
• The fountain on the Meir represents the mouth of the Scheldt to the sea. The fountain’s spouts invite you to play and interact with the water.

History of design

In June 2023, the council approved the concept design for the reconstruction of the Wapper. This was followed by consultation moments with local entrepreneurs and the general public. 

The input collected was incorporated into the preliminary design, which the council approved in January 2024. An information session for the neighborhood followed in the spring. The OMGEVING/De Urbanisten design team then completed the final design, which the council approved today.

Koen Kennis (N-VA), alderman for Small Businesses and Tourism: “The ‘new’ Wapper, together with the redesigned Schuttershofstraat, will soon provide a quality injection to the bustling shopping heart of Antwerp.”

District of Antwerp mayor Paul Cordy (N-VA): “In the future, the Wapper will connect nicely with the Schuttershofstraat, which is currently being transformed by the district into a pleasant shopping street.”

Timing

Now that the final design has been approved, the city of Antwerp will look for a contractor. If everything goes smoothly, the works can start in the spring of 2026.

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