The City of Antwerp is buying 1.65 hectares of nature on the Lageweg. The so-called Blikvelden have been accessible via the Frieslandstraat since 2021. The purchase is part of the Lageweg project: the site is centrally located in the project area and is necessary for the realization of a large future park. The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp is now submitting the purchase of the land to the municipal council for approval.

Around the Lageweg in Hoboken there is an area with companies and houses, but also with abandoned industry, contaminated land and a vacant lot. The City is working with the various landowners on a plan to redevelop this zone. It should once again become a mixed area with space for small and medium sized enterprises (SME), (manufacturing) companies, housing, urban facilities for the neighborhood, and a park.

Alderman for urban development and spatial planning Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “We already opened the undeveloped ‘Blikvelden’ behind the former copper and tinsmith’s to the public in 2021. With the purchase of this land, this place is guaranteed to remain green. Now, with the RUP Lageweg, we are focusing on a bright future for this part of Hoboken, including a large park of 10 hectares!”

District mayor of Hoboken Kathelijne Toen (N-VA): “With this purchase, we are taking another step forward towards the preliminary design RUP Lageweg. As the district of Hoboken, we are therefore pleased, because what was once the dilapidated gateway to Hoboken can now evolve into a new, green district such as Groen Zuid. And that creates a clear added value for Hoboken.”

History

In the 1920s, the Lageweg area attracted two industrial establishments: the metal foundries and coppersmiths Schippers-Podeveyn and the tinsmiths of Jos Schuybroek. By 2013, both factories had closed their doors. Part of their area, today ‘De Blikvelden’, remained hidden behind the factory buildings. That part was never built on.​

With the support of the city, the area was made accessible in 2021. Natuurpunt created a walking path for this purpose and manages De Blikvelden.

Ecological value

With the purchase, the city guarantees that this area will remain green. This is necessary because it has great ecological value: it plays an important role in collecting rainwater and there is plenty of space for fauna and flora.

The city wants to create a large park of 10 hectares in this zone, in which the Hollebeek creek must once again have a place. The Hollebeek currently follows an underground route. Research is still being done into how a more natural course of the stream can be restored and whether it can flow above ground again.

Next steps

The city is starting to draw up a design for the future 10-hectare park.

The spatial implementation plan (RUP) Lageweg is being further developed. The city is drawing up a preliminary design for this together with the various landowners.

More information can also be found at www.antwerpenmorgen.be/lageweg.

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