The City of Antwerp and its partners within De Grote Verbinding began in April 2026 with the construction on the first phase of the Merksemse Tuinen or Merksem Gardens, a new park area forming part of Ringpark Groenendaal in the north-west of the district. The works are expected to take around a year.
This initial phase covers a strip approximately 700 metres long and 30 metres wide, located between the temporary Ring Road bypass towards the Netherlands and nearby housing. The site stretches from Ganzemate (Distelhoekpark) to the Burgemeester Jozef Masurebrug.
Focus on nature and ecology
The first phase centres on the creation of a wet ecological corridor, which will serve as a local water buffer for the Ringpark and surrounding streets. The corridor is designed to reduce flood risks during prolonged rainfall and provide cooling during hot weather. It is also intended as a meeting place to strengthen social cohesion in the neighbourhood.
A total of 736 shrubs and 177 trees will be planted, including varieties of willow, hazel, hawthorn and blackthorn. Grass and flower mixtures aimed at attracting bees and butterflies will also be introduced.
Bridges will be constructed across the ecological corridor, forming part of future connections between the neighbourhood and the wider Ringpark. Together with a grass path along the visual embankment beside the bypass, this will create a walkable route.
A temporary grass field will be installed near the Masure Bridge, pending the full realisation of Ringpark Groenendaal. The existing dog walking zone will also be expanded and integrated into the Merksemse Tuinen.
If all goes to plan, works on this first phase will be completed by spring 2027.
“We are truly underway”
Manu Claeys of the citizens’ movement stRaten-generaal said: “With the start of construction of the Merksemse Tuinen, we are scoring a four-leaf clover, and as we know, that brings luck. After Ringpark West, Pomppark Zuid and the eastern Ringpark Het Schijn, the train of liveability projects has now visibly and practically reached the north of the city. We are truly underway, for all Antwerp residents.”
Broader infrastructure programme
Across Antwerp, works on the Oosterweel connection – involving the upgrading, completion and partial covering of the Ring Road – are in full progress. These works form part of De Grote Verbinding, which brings together the Oosterweel project, the Ringparks and a new Scheldt bridge. The long-term programme is a collaboration between the city, Lantis and civic groups.
Annick De Ridder (N-VA), Flemish Minister for Mobility, said: “Oosterweel is not only the construction project of the century, it is also a liveability project. Strong cooperation between all partners has always been essential: not only on site, but also between Flanders and the city, aligning plans, making clear choices and sharing responsibility. We remain committed to the agreements of the Toekomstverbond: continuing work on the Ring around the city (the Haventracé) as well as on the liveability projects.”
Once the Oosterweel connection is completed, construction of the Ringparks on the new coverings and alongside the lowered Ring will begin.
Early steps towards the ringparks
In the meantime, work is already starting on initial sections of the future Ringparks wherever space is available within or around current construction sites. The Merksemse Tuinen form one such early project, alongside the first phases of Ringpark Het Schijn and Pomppark Zuid (part of Ringpark Groene Vesten).
Koen Kennis (N-VA), Antwerp Alderman for Mobility, said: “The development of the northern Ringparks and the Oosterweel connection go hand in hand. Wherever space becomes available within the Oosterweel construction zone, we begin work on the Ringparks. Today we are building the first section of the Merksemse Tuinen along the Ring. In a few years, the new covering will be in place and we will be ready, with Ringpark Groenendaal, to cross the motorway and literally connect neighbourhoods.”
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