Car-free and customer-first: Antwerp rethinks Meir and Kammenstraat shopping areas

Antwerp’s shopping landscape is on the verge of a historic transformation. At the heart of the city’s commercial district, the Meir continues to affirm its status as Belgium’s retail powerhouse, drawing more than 300,000 visitors every week, surpassing even Brussels’ famed Nieuwstraat / Rue Neuve.

This remarkable footfall is not only a testament to the Meir’s enduring appeal but also a powerful catalyst for a broader urban and commercial renewal stretching from the De Keyserlei to the Boerentoren.

Acting mayor and alderman for Finance, Mobility, Heritage, Tourism and SMEs, Koen Kennis (N-VA), is spearheading ambitious plans to reshape both the Meir and the nearby Kammenstraat to better meet the expectations of modern shoppers and city residents.

The world’s largest Zara

The most headline-grabbing development is undoubtedly the upcoming arrival of the world’s largest Zara store, set to open in 2026 at the beginning of the Meir.

With 14,500 square metres of floor space, it will be the Spanish fashion giant’s flagship worldwide and the second largest mono-brand clothing store on the planet.

This bold investment by Zara, alongside other retail giants such as Primark, H&M, C&A and The Sting, all of which already occupy massive outlets along the Meir, reinforces Antwerp’s image as the retail capital of the Benelux.

Together, these stores make up more than 26,000 square metres of retail space, cementing the Meir’s role as a prime shopping artery.

Beyond retail

However, the city’s plans go well beyond retail expansion. A comprehensive redevelopment of the Meir is in the pipeline, with construction expected to begin by 2028.

The vision includes a greener, more climate-resilient street, with enhanced lighting, the capacity to collect and reuse rainwater, and new public spaces that invite both activity and relaxation. Five design proposals have been shortlisted by the city, with the final decision to be announced in the coming weeks.

Regardless of which plan is chosen, the message is clear: the Meir is evolving into a street where sustainability, heritage, and commerce converge.

The transformation extends to the Wapper, the square linking the Meir to the Rubens House. Work here will begin in the spring of 2026, aimed at turning this underutilised space into a green, pedestrian-friendly zone.

Water features will help mitigate urban heat and drought, while seating, terraces, and widened passageways for pedestrians and cyclists will create a more welcoming environment. The redesign is part of the city’s broader climate adaptation strategy.

Car-free Kammenstraat

Meanwhile, the Kammenstraat, long celebrated as a haven for alternative fashion and subculture, is also set for a major makeover.

Acting mayor Koen Kennis is pushing to make the street car-free during shop opening hours, following the example of the nearby Schuttershofstraat. This initiative has found strong support among local traders. Nico Volckeryck, Antwerp regional director of the Neutral Union for the Self-Employed (Neutraal Syndicaat voor Zelfstandigen) and owner of ‘geek store’ Fans, has long advocated for a pedestrian-first Kammenstraat. He notes that the idea has circulated for over twenty years and that many young entrepreneurs see a car-free street as vital to the area’s future.

Volckeryck also stresses the need for a broader aesthetic upgrade to match the changes in mobility. Inspired by the redevelopment of the Schuttershofstraat, which even received a public artwork by Martin Margiela, he proposes placing a new piece in the Kammenstraat, perhaps by Raf Simons, another Antwerp fashion icon. Such a gesture would both honour the street’s legacy and underscore its place in the city’s creative fabric.

There are practical considerations too. The street has already proven it can function car-free during busy shopping periods like the holidays, with no noticeable impact on accessibility. However, Volckeryck warns that making streets car-free can sometimes lead to disruptive behaviour from cyclists and scooter riders. As on the Meir, temporary bans on bikes during peak times may be needed to maintain safety and comfort for pedestrians.

A larger push

Redesigning both the Meir and Kammenstraat is part of a larger push to preserve Antwerp’s position as a top shopping destination in the region. Kennis emphasises the importance of maintaining a cohesive and attractive commercial core.

“We must always be careful not to fragment the trade too much”, he says. “It is important that we have a nice, large commercial centre in Antwerp.”

Elsewhere in the city centre, changes already madeDaniel Libeskind are shaping the pedestrian experience. De Keyserlei, the gateway from Antwerp-Central Railway Station to the Meir, was overhauled in 2011 to widen pavements, improve cycling infrastructure, and add trees and café terraces.

The neighbouring Operaplein, redeveloped in 2017, included a tunnel to reroute traffic and expose the historic Kipdorpbrug. Though criticised for its starkness and lack of greenery, the square cannot be altered without a full redesign due to architectural contracts.

The Antwerp Tower, once considered among Europe’s ugliest buildings, has also undergone a radical facelift. Its façade was replaced, and its internal structure transformed into housing and retail. It now serves as a striking visual link between the station and the shopping core, part of a deliberate effort to strengthen the De Keyserlei–Meir axis.

Farmers’ Tower

At the other end of the Meir stands the Boerentoren. Once envisioned to receive a dramatic overhaul by starchitect Daniel Libeskind, including the controversial removal of its 1975 rooftop addition, plans have since been scrapped following strong public backlash and legal disputes. While a new design is still being developed, the tower’s final look remains uncertain. Yet its significance as a symbolic gateway to the Meir remains undiminished.

One piece of infrastructure that will not change, at least for now, is the Meirbrug. Originally slated for partial removal to improve pedestrian and cyclist flow, the plan was abandoned when the broader North–South tunnel project under the Scheldt Quays was cancelled.

City officials warned that removing part of the bridge without the tunnel would cause major traffic congestion and potentially paralyse the city centre.

Taken together, these developments paint a compelling picture of Antwerp’s future: a city investing heavily in its urban core to balance commerce, sustainability, and quality of life.

The Meir and Kammenstraat are central to this vision—each evolving in their own way but always in conversation with each other. As new architecture rises, green spaces emerge, and traffic patterns shift, Antwerp is not just preserving its status as a shopping haven. It is redefining what that means for the decades ahead.

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