De Meester | Neighborhood

Eilandje

With its marina, the Eilandje (meaning ‘small island’ in Dutch) forms a vibrant new waterfront urban district, located in the north of Antwerp. The last decade saw intensive work on the redevelopment of this former port area. The Docklands in London and the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam, among others, were considered for the redevelopment of the area.

With the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom), the Montevideo warehouses, the Red Star Line Museum, the Willemdok, the trendy catering establishments and the wide city boulevards, the Eilandje is now definitely on the map. The prominent presence of water, open space and different types of buildings mixed together are part of the neighbourhood's charm and typical character.

The Eilandje, where the atmosphere of the harbour meets the historic centre, also continues to inspire property developers. Projects such as the six Westkaai Towers on the Kattendijk dock, the Royal Entrepot on the Willemdok and Liberty Poort next to the Red Star Line Museum have set the scene.

Kaaien

From north to south, there is Rijnkaai, Orteliuskaai, Ernest Van Dijckkaai, Plantinkkaai, Sint-Michielskaai, Cockerillkaai, De Gerlachekaai, Ledeganckkaai and D'Herbouvillekaai. A large-scale reconstruction of the Scheldt quays was started in 2013. This will stabilise the historical quay wall and reduce the risk of flooding with a higher flood defence. Above all, the public space will be upgraded into an attractive, welcoming place for all Antwerp residents and visitors.

At the end of 2022, work also started on temporarily greening a part of the Loodswezensite on the Scheldt quays. This will give the city a pleasant place to relax by the water. In spring 2024, the definitive reconstruction of the public domain of the entire Loodswezensite, designed by Bureau Bas Smets, will start, including a green sunbathing area.

Historisch Centrum

The Historical Centre is the neighbourhood with many famous buildings and tourist attractions such as the Grote Markt with the city hall, the cathedral and the Groenplaats. This neighbourhood is a combination of baroque sights, charming streets and picturesque squares. Between the historic buildings, the many restaurants, cafés, terraces, shops and museums, strolling is fun.

Zuid

Zuid forms the southern part of Antwerp city centre.

With its many restaurants, bars, design shops and galleries, ‘het ZuId’ is known, together with ‘het Eilandje’, as one of Antwerp's trendiest neighbourhoods. The neighbourhood is also sometimes called the Museum District thanks to the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Photo Museum and Cinema Lumière.

Stately mansions and ornate Art Nouveau houses define the street scene here. The Zuid district’s geometric plan, with its wide star-patterned streets, is inspired by what architect Haussmann has realised in Paris. This pattern is recognisable on Marnixplaats, Lambermontplaats, Leopold de Waelplaats, Gillisplaats with the Waterpoort and Bolivarplaats with the New Palace of Justice.

An additional major asset are the Gedempte Zuiderdokken, which are currently being rebuilt. The southernmost part between Gillisplaats and New South has already been inaugurated, with great success. The park is no less than three times the size of the Groenplaats; it has two playgrounds, a community garden, a silence garden, a playing field, a basketball court, lots of trees and other greenery. A beautifully long promenade shaded by rows of trees offers coolness in summer. In short, something for everyone. There is even a rainwater tank that recovers rainwater. Moreover, the docks will again be equipped with a lot of parking space, this time underground. By spring 2024, the entire 7-hectare park should be ready.

Theaterbuurt

Close to the historic city centre, the heart of the city beats in the Theatre Quarter.

For more than five hundred years, the Theatre District around the Komedieplaats has been the "place to be" if you like exclusive and special. This district, sometimes called the Latin Quarter, brings together all the city's main fashion points: big fashion chains on the Meir, the shopping complex of the Stadsfeestzaal, the renovated Hopland and the chic boutiques such as Chanel, Gucci and Armani towards the Schuttershofstraat. With the Bourlaschouwburg, the Stadspark, the Stadsschouwburg, the Vogeltjesmarkt and numerous terraces within easy reach, the Theatre District also has a very diverse leisure offer. In 2008, the Theatre Square was tackled by Italian architects Bernardo Secchi and Paola Viganò and Flemish engineer-architect Dirk Jaspaer. With its imposing canopy and beautiful prairie garden, life in the Theatre District was given a new impetus, making epicureans feel right at home here.

Also opening in 2022 was the Botanic Sanctuary, a 15th-century monastery and chapel that has been beautifully renovated and transformed into a five-star luxury hotel with 108 rooms and a spa. On the same historic site – in addition to the hotel restaurant and bar - there are four more exceptional restaurants, including the two-star restaurant Hertog Jan. This huge investment boosts Antwerp as a culinary fashion city and should attract luxury tourism.

Nieuw Zuid

Nieuw Zuid (“New South”) is a new, sustainable neighbourhood located next to the Zuid district, between the New Palace of Justice and the Scheldt quays.

Nieuw Zuid is a lively neighbourhood in the making on the quays in Antwerp, with a varied range of residential housing, shops, offices, galleries, restaurants and public facilities. This will create an attractive living, shopping and working environment. A central shopping and pedestrian promenade run through the district as an extension of the renovated Gedempte Zuiderdokken.

With new green areas, a large park, squares and footpaths, there is also plenty of room for greenery in the streetscape. With 33 hectares of greenery, Nieuw Zuid is even the greenest residential area in Antwerp! Sustainable development is also central, thanks to well thought-out management of water and energy. All these factors make Nieuw Zuid a pleasant and trendy neighbourhood to live in.

Cadixwijk

The Cadix neighbourhood near the Eilandje is being thoroughly renovated by both public and private initiatives into one of the city's most atmospheric, high-quality and environmentally friendly neighbourhoods. Amid protected and restored historical buildings, ambitious renovation and new construction projects and new streets and squares are springing up. Historic buildings such as the Noorderpershuis and new initiatives such as the Red Star Line Museum, promenades and the green Cadix Square create a dynamic atmosphere and make the Cadix neighbourhood an investment with guaranteed returns.

Since 2020, the Cadix neighbourhood has regained its original function as a residential area by the port and is revived as never before. Much attention is paid to sustainable development: energy-efficient construction with green roofs, economical district lighting and lots of greenery. Surrounded by water and a marina, the intimate and social character of the neighbourhood is maintained.

The renewed Cadix neighbourhood is easily accessible by public transport thanks to the arrival of a new tram line connecting the area with the city centre. After the redevelopment of Londenstraat and Amsterdamstraat, the construction of Cadixplein, the crowning glory of the work on the eastern part of the Eilandje, began in 2015. The square will be the largest square in the city and will run from the Cadiz complex (on the site of the former customs building) to the water of the Kattendijk dock. The section between the water and the tram line has yet to be built. With a green mix of grass, trees, a floating pontoon and pedestrian boulevards, the park square will become the beating heart of the Cadix neighbourhood. The new tram line, connecting the city centre across the Slates to the Siberia Bridge and the New Port House, crosses the square.

With the new ZNA Cadix hospital under construction between the Kempisch dok and Noorderlaan, this neighbourhood has everything within easy reach. With its 19 floors, this ZNA hospital stands head and shoulders above the other towers in the area. It is scheduled to open in September 2023.

Sint-Andries

The Sint-Andries neighbourhood is located between the Historic Centre and the South.

Sint-Andries is a lively, popular neighbourhood where young and old feel at home. Famous are the Sint-Andriesplein with its cultural centre, the Kloosterstraat with its many antique and design shops and the Nationalestraat, with the ModeNatie and the Fashion Museum.

Universiteitsbuurt

With its 40,000 students, Antwerp is increasingly clearly a student city, with the University Quarter forming the heart of Antwerp's student life. Several campuses of Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool, Thomas More and the University of Antwerp are located in the University Area. The student area is not far from the Meir and the historical centre and with its many nice cafés, picturesque facades and fine restaurants, it is a beacon of conviviality and charm. Many young families consciously choose the dynamics of a neighbourhood that is always on the move. In recent years, several renovation and new construction projects have popped up in this neighbourhood, such as Poponcini & Lootens' student accommodation on Paardenmarkt.

Harmonie

Located between the Leien and Berchem, the elongated Harmonie district owes its name to Harmonie Park, with the nearby King Albert Park. De Harmonie, the former concert hall in the park of the same name, was beautifully renovated by the architectural firm Atelier Kempe Thill into a new city office and restaurant space. They also designed the redevelopment of the park itself and the restoration of the city fountain by Henry van de Velde.

De Harmonie is a quiet neighbourhood with stately houses, the new Provinciehuis designed by Xaveer De Geyter and the Old Palace of Justice.

Markgrave

The Markgrave district is a distinguished neighbourhood that in the 19th century catered to a wealthy middle class of magistrates, merchants, artists, renters and unmarried ladies of standing. The neighbourhood quickly grew into the southern counterpart of Zurenborg.

In terms of typology, the classical bourgeois house with basement or bel-etage dominates. It is a stately quarter where streets like Markgravelei, Bosmanslei, Arthur Goemaerelei and Van Putlei are distinguished by residential, monumental buildings from the later 19th and early 20th centuries. The neighbourhood's chic facades recount its glorious past. The court of Leysen and the Domain Hertoghe form open, green zones that break up the dense buildings. St Laurentius Church adds a monumental accent to the street's scenography.

Groen Kwartier

Het Groen Kwartier (the “Green Quarter”), located between Marialei, Lange Leemstraat and Boomgaartstraat, is a special combination of historical architecture with contemporary design. The monumental buildings of the former Military Hospital were restored into a green living environment. Parisian landscape architect Michel Desvigne redesigned the site into a car-free park garden with urban orchards and beautiful tall trees. The mix of trendy lofts, penthouses, family homes and flats also add a new dimension to the urban lifestyle. The walled site thus retains its security but is anchored in an urban environment by numerous walking and cycling links.

Stadspark

Near the Theatre Quarter is the 14-hectare Stadspark, a remnant of an advance fortification of the 16th-century city walls. Adjacent is Klein-Antwerpen, characterised by a collection of different architectural styles, ranging from 19th-century and early-20th-century to contemporary new construction projects. Next door is the diamond district, the heart of Antwerp's diamond industry. The Stadspark neighbourhood borders the De Keyserlei, for many the starting point of an afternoon of shopping in Antwerp.

Zurenborg

Floating in the grandeur of the belle époque, Zurenborg is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful districts of Antwerp. With a mixture of architectural styles ranging from art nouveau, eclecticism to neoclassicism, it is a unique place within the architectural heritage of the city of Antwerp. With trendy restaurants and the beautiful starry sky, the Dageraadplaats is the heart of Zurenborg. The prestigious Cogels-Osylei is also a fine example of bourgeois architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Brederode

Located in the southeast of the city of Antwerp, the Brederode neighbourhood is close to trendy South. It is bordered by Singel, Amerikalei and Anselmostraat and owes its name to Brederodestraat.

This shopping street forms the heart of the neighbourhood and is also called the 'Gateway to the South' by shopkeepers.  Brederode is a multicultural, distinctive neighbourhood with its own 'couleur locale' in its shops, restaurants and cafés. Since the redevelopment of the Leien and the Nieuw Justitiepaleis on Bolivarplaats, this is an upcoming neighbourhood.

Antwerpen Oost

Between Park Spoor Noord, Carnotstraat and Kerkstraat are some distinct neighbourhoods that we put under the heading of Antwerp East. For instance, this neighbourhood houses the Chinese district around the famous Van Wesenbekestraat with its Chinese gate, but also Seefhoek with the Stuivenberg hospital. The name 'Seefhoek' comes from an inn that was located at the corner of Lange Beeldekensstraat and Pesthofstraat, where the local Seef beer was served. Vincent van Gogh once lived in this neighbourhood.

Antwerp East is also home to one of Antwerp's largest squares; Sint-Jansplein. It hosts weekly markets and the surrounding streets are filled with exotic food shops, as well as popular cafés and eateries.

Central Station

The area around Antwerp Central Station, also called "Central Station" by the people of Antwerp, has a lot of activity. The iconic station building is unique and attracts many tourists. Behind the station is the Antwerp Zoo, also known as the most beautiful 19th-century zoo in the world. The Koningin Elizabethzaal on Koningin Astridplein is home to the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra as the resident orchestra, a magnificent event space that can accommodate 2,000 people. De Keyserlei with its many shops and restaurants takes day-trippers from the station to the Meir, the city's most popular shopping street. Just before walking up the Meir, you pass the eclectic Opera Square with the Antwerp Opera. In this neoclassical building with columns and luxurious furnishings, Opera Ballet Flanders offers an extensive programme. The thorough renovation of the adjoining Antwerp Tower is nearing completion, and with its 25 floors it is the city's tallest residential tower.

Borgerhout

Around the large and old traffic artery of Turnhoutsebaan lies the intramuros section (the part within the Antwerp Singel) of the Borgerhout district, which functioned as an independent municipality until 1983. Borgerhout already acquired its own character from the 16th century as many merchants settled here. It further developed as a municipality known for its commerce. Borgerhout's shopping streets are full of exotic shops and always have a lively atmosphere.

Between the many shops on Turhoutsebaan, the former cinema De Roma still shines, now serving as a multipurpose hall for theatre, concerts, cinema and socio-cultural activities. A favourite haunt of many Antwerp residents. Moorkensplein also is a draw for people from all over the city with its many cosy cafés and restaurants, set amid pleasant residential streets.

Park Spoor Noord

The arrival of Park Spoor Noord is a breath of fresh air for the neighbourhood, completely reviving the Dam, Stuivenberg and Seefboek districts. The run-down railway site was transformed into a contemporary, sustainable and expansive urban park with an emphasis on greenery, light, space, relaxation, culture and sports. Adjacent to the park, the first new projects such as the Light Tower, the Park Tower and the recent Artesis Campus have been risen. A new state-of-the-art ZNA hospital, flanked by two residential towers, is now being finished between the Hardenvoort viaduct and Kempenstraat. Over the Leien runs the Park Bridge, a 70-metre pedestrian and cyclist bridge, connecting the Eilandje to Park Spoor Noord. A green park ramp was built between the buildings on Ellerman Street and the Hardenvoort Viaduct to create a smooth transition between the bridge and the park. These are several aspects that make the neighbourhood around Park Spoor Noord hip in line with the Eilandje and Cadix neighbourhoods.

A vibrant new neighbourhood with a large central park called Slachthuiswijk is also growing between Lobroekdok and Park Spoor Noord. Where Antwerp's slaughterhouses used to be, a lively neighbourhood with lots of housing, local shops, new places to eat and creative initiatives is now under construction.

Oud-Berchem

Oud-Berchem is the part of Berchem that lies within the ring road, next to Zurenborg.

In the residential area around Cardinal Mercierlei and Le Grellelei, you will find stately homes from the late 19th and first half of the 20th century. Oud-Berchem is surrounded by Koning Albertpark and at walking distance from the shops on Driekoningenstraat and Statiestraat. This neighbourhood is also close to Antwerp-Berchem station and the city's public access roads, making accessibility an important asset.