The engineering works for the first phase of the redevelopment of the Droogdokkensite or Dry Dock Site at Het Eilandje in Antwerp have started, with the restoration of five of the dry docks. The pump house and the buildings for youth work will follow in the spring. In the master plan for the Droogdokkensite, the unique site on the Scheldekaaien is being transformed into one large public maritime experience site.

The Droogdokkensite, on the northwestern side of the Kattendijkdok, consists of a unique landscape on the Scheldt with special industrial and architectural heritage. In addition to the nine historic, protected dry docks, it includes two large clusters of buildings, several smaller scattered outbuildings and two pump houses.

A master plan has been drawn up to transform the historic location into a maritime experience site. In order to concretise that master plan, municipal real estate agency AG Vespa went looking for contractors for the restoration of part of the dry docks. The first contractor has now started the restoration works on five of the dry docks. It concerns dry docks 1 to 4, and dry dock 6. 

He is also filling in part of the underground pipes. The works will take 1.5 years and, if everything goes according to plan, will be completed in the spring of 2026.

Restoration of five dry docks

The five dry docks will be thoroughly renovated:

• Dry docks 1, 2 and 3: the contractor will remove the doors of these permanently wet docks and restore everything above the waterline. He will also clean and restore the natural stone to be preserved.
• Dry dock 4: this dock will remain in service as a working dock to restore ships from the maritime collection (including the MAS and maritime non-profit organisations). It will be completely restored and will also receive a new dock door.
• Dry dock 6: this dock will be restored so that it can be used as an event dock in the future. To guarantee safety in the later event dock, a permanent bulkhead will also be placed at the Kattendijkdok. Finally, part of the underground pipes, between pump house 1 and dry dock 4, will also be filled in to prevent later subsidence.

In the spring of 2025, the construction of pump house 1 and the parts of the site that are intended for youth work will also start. This includes the partial demolition of the adjacent buildings, so that the elegantly finished facades of the historic pump house from 1895 become visible again. The youth work will be housed in a compact new building volume and in the existing large hall that is being renovated while retaining the industrial character.

Alderman for Urban Development Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “With a lot of public and green space created next to nine historic dry docks and two pump houses, the Droogdokkensite will become the place where the city embraces the old port. With the restoration of five of the dry docks, the first concrete steps are being taken towards a bright future for this historic site that will rise again as one large public maritime experience site.”

Money from Flanders

For the restoration of the dry docks and the pump house, the Flemish Government awarded a subsidy of maximum 5 million euros.

Flemish Minister of Immovable Heritage Matthias Diependaele (N-VA): “The Droogdokkensite tells part of the story of Flanders, the site breathes our Flemish entrepreneurial spirit and our rich maritime past. The fact that the restoration of five dry docks has now started is therefore good news. In this way, we are bringing our heritage into top shape and passing it on to the next generation.”

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