Experience

Antwerp shopping streets renewed: more variety and less vacancy

Posted by Timothy on

In 2025, the City of Antwerp has carried out an inventory of commercial activity in its shopping streets. This triennial study maps out various dynamics, including which shops, hospitality venues and services are active, and also examines vacancy levels. As Flanders’ leading shopping city, Antwerp closely monitors developments in its retail streets.

The latest survey of Antwerp’s shopping areas covered 48 retail zones, both in the city centre and across the districts. It identified the range of shops, hospitality businesses and other services, and assessed the extent of vacant premises. This gives the city a clear picture of how these streets have evolved in recent years. Based on the findings, Antwerp can better define its retail zones and implement more targeted policies for its shops and shopping areas. 

For the first time, the area around De Robianostraat and Frans Beirenslaan in Borsbeek was also included in the study.

Alderman for Entrepreneurship Koen Kennis (N-VA) stated: “Our Antwerp shopping streets are vibrant once again, full of energy and entrepreneurship. The declining vacancy rate and the growing diversity of the offer show that Antwerp is not only a top destination for shopping, but also remains an attractive place for entrepreneurs. Together we are building lively neighbourhoods where retail, hospitality and experience go hand in hand.”

Changing dynamics in local areas

In some locations, such as Ekeren-Dorp (Ekeren Village) and Deurne-Zuid (Deurne South), certain sections of the streets are no longer considered part of the official shopping areas. Some of the buildings there have been converted to other uses, such as housing. However, the main parts of these areas still consist largely of shops, showing that commercial activity remains well concentrated — just as the city intended.

More hospitality, beauty salons and real estate offices

The study shows that Antwerp’s commercial offer continues to expand, driven mainly by the growth of hospitality businesses and service providers. Since 2016, the city’s shopping streets have seen a strong rise in establishments such as lunch bars, coffee shops, snack bars, hairdressers, beauty salons, pizzerias, convenience stores and estate agencies. Over the past ten years, these types of businesses have increased by 20%.

As a result, shopping streets are increasingly characterised by a broader commercial mix, featuring not only traditional shops such as clothing and food stores, but also a range of services, crafts, leisure and entertainment activities. Although the number of clothing and shoe shops has fallen in recent years, it has now stabilised. In some retail zones — such as Kammenstraat–Kleine Markt, Steenhouwersvest, and Abdijstraat–Den Tir in the Kiel neighbourhood (not related to the German city) — the number of shops has even grown.

The research confirms that Antwerp’s retail landscape continues to diversify through the expansion of hospitality and services, resulting in a wider mix of commerce. The study also found that the number of vacant retail properties has decreased from 12.9% in 2022 to 12.1% in 2025, bringing Antwerp in line with the Flemish average. 

Vacancy has dropped most noticeably in streets that have recently been redeveloped, such as Schuttershofstraat–Hopland, Hoogstraat, and the area around Vlaamsekaai. These upgrades have clearly attracted new entrepreneurs.

On the look of Antwerp

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