The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp approved the environmental permit for the redevelopment of the Paardenmarkt. This brings the implementation of this project of the Antwerp district closer. The works will start in the spring of 2025, if everything goes smoothly.

The new Paardenmarkt will be safer, greener, and more pleasant to stay. The works have now been officially given the green light. The design pays a lot of attention to the quality of life in the street.

District mayor Paul Cordy (N-VA): “The Paardenmarkt will be transformed from a wide thoroughfare into a pleasant residential, walking and shopping street with lots of greenery and plenty of space for the sidewalks, which will provide many extra possibilities for the catering establishments. The section between the Hessenbrug and the Varkensmarkt will be constructed as a residential area, so that the living space here can be used optimally.” 

Green design

District alderman for Green Areas Tom Van den Borne (Groen): “The entire street will have new and larger planting areas with a mix of plants and trees. Rainwater will be collected as much as possible in the planting areas instead of flowing straight into the sewer. The existing trees will be preserved as much as possible (77 of the 91) and will be given more space to grow. In addition, 30 new trees will be planted. Of these, 8 will be given the space to continue growing as future trees.”

Experience

The neighbourhood will gain a lot of living space, with a number of pleasant seating areas among the greenery (except for the Varkensmarkt side), and a square area at the Sint-Antonius church. The children of the neighbourhood will have play facilities, festive lighting can be connected in the residential area, and there will be more space for terraces.

Zone 30 and residential area

Traffic safety is being focused on, with a zone 30 from the Boulevards (Leien) to the intersection with the Hessenbrug, and a residential area on the section between the Hessenbrug and the Varkensmarkt.

The residential area will have three large green areas, interrupted by semi-paved strips. The green areas ensure that traffic cannot drive in a straight line, and therefore automatically slows down.

City of Antwerp alderman for mobility Koen Kennis (N-VA): “We are providing a mix of mobility options on the renovated Paardenmarkt. For example, the Velo stations will remain, but they will be moved further down the street. In addition, we are installing drop zones for shared mobility systems and extra bicycle racks. This redevelopment fits in with our ambition to profile the 16th-century city centre as a walking area as much as possible.”

Timing

The further management and communication about this project is the responsibility of the Antwerp district. The next phase is the tender procedure to appoint the contractor who will carry out the works. If everything goes smoothly, the works will start in the spring of 2025.

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