ANTWERP | Future urban port: draft spatial implementation plan approved

The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp has approved the draft spatial implementation plan (RUP) for the Innovative Urban Port. With this plan, Antwerp aims to create a future-oriented business zone on the Eilandje, at the boundary between the city and the port. If all goes smoothly, the plan will be finalised in the spring of 2027.

This business zone is located between the northern part of Antwerp’s city centre and the port area, encompassing Kempeneiland, Asiadok-Oostkaai, Mexico-eiland, and Steenborgerweert. The surrounding docks are not included in the planning area.

Bringing city and port closer together

The plan reinforces the historic link between the city centre and the port—a connection that weakened as port activities shifted northwards. Today, the area features diverse businesses, with large office buildings, paved open spaces for storage or parking, and underused quays and docks. The RUP establishes a forward-looking framework that encourages innovation and aligns with a modern, urban economy.

Patrick Janssens (Vooruit), Alderman for Urban Development, said: “With the plans for the Innovative Urban Port, we are making a clear policy choice: we want to anchor business activities in a future-oriented way. This RUP creates a contemporary planning framework for an urban business environment. We are promoting densification and cross-pollination between functions to give this unique location every opportunity to become an attractive place for businesses.”

A future-oriented business zone

Business activities will remain the focus north of ZAS Cadix hospital. A more flexible framework will create space for new circular and innovative economies, research, and development. Spatial efficiency will be encouraged through multifunctional, multi-storey buildings. Additionally, the plan will accommodate job-focused training—from forklift driving to simulator-based courses—and urban agriculture within the planning area. Along the docks, businesses that use the water for logistics, such as the transport of materials or testing infrastructure, will be encouraged.

Johan Klaps (N-VA), Alderman for the Economy, added: “This will not be a traditional business park, but a city district filled with industrial activity, research, and development. Recently, for example, the temporary Belgian hub for cargo drones was opened here; in the future, this will be the place for innovation.”

Smart mobility and accessibility

The RUP prioritises multimodal accessibility. Water logistics are a natural fit, but space will also be made for new and safe cycling infrastructure. The islands could be reconnected via new pedestrian and cycling bridges, addressing a missing link in the wider area’s cycling network.

Improved accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians will benefit not only employees and visitors, but also create opportunities to develop an urban distribution network. For example, goods could be delivered via water and then distributed emission-free throughout the city using electric cargo bikes.

A vibrant city district

Historically, the Urban Port was a place for strolling along the bustling quays. With the RUP’s vision, Antwerp’s residents will once again be able to explore the area’s activities. A green park zone in the north of Kempeneiland will make the Innovative Urban Port a pleasant district with a maritime experience. 

Through smart densification, additional recreational functions will also become possible, such as leisure, sports, and cultural activities. The area could also help provide structural solutions for nightlife, with sufficient attention paid to sound buffering.

In the planning area, complementary functions will always remain subordinate to business activities. The ground floor will remain reserved for business use, while complementary functions may be located on upper floors.

Next steps

The city will now submit the draft RUP to various advisory bodies for feedback. The next step will take place in the autumn, when the RUP will be presented to the city council for provisional adoption, followed by a 60-day public consultation. The final adoption of the RUP is scheduled for the spring of 2027.

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