Restoration work on the historic roofs of Antwerp‘s Noorderpershuis will begin on 10 August 2026, marking the next phase in the preservation of one of the city’s most important industrial heritage sites. The project is expected to continue until autumn 2027 and forms part of wider plans to give the protected monument a new future.
The Noorderpershuis, on Kattendijkdok-Oostkaai in the Eilandje district, was designed by city architect Gustave Royers and once served as the hydraulic power station for the Port of Antwerp. Steam-powered pumps forced water through an extensive network of high-pressure pipes that powered cranes, bridges and lock gates across the harbour, while the Zuiderpershuis fulfilled the same role for the southern docks and Scheldt Quays.
The restoration will focus on the site’s most valuable historic buildings, including the front building along Kattendijkdok-Oostkaai, the 1877 engine hall, the accumulator tower and the 1914 engine hall on the Indiëstraat side. The roofs will be cleaned and repaired, with particular attention paid to the timber and steel structures. Roof coverings will be replaced with materials that match the building’s historic character, while the roof lanterns and cornices will also be restored to their original design.
Antwerp Alderman for Municipal Property and AG Vespa chairman Koen Kennis (N-VA) said the Noorderpershuis had once powered the cranes, bridges and locks that were essential to the port and remained an integral part of the city’s history. He said restoring the roofs would safeguard the industrial monument and prepare it for a new future.
Disruption during the works is expected to be limited. Construction activity will be confined to the façades along Kattendijkdok-Oostkaai and Indiëstraat. A Velo bicycle station on Indiëstraat will be temporarily closed, while the nearby Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie brewery will remain open and accessible throughout the project.
The roof restoration is part of a broader programme to find a new use for the Noorderpershuis. AG Vespa is currently exploring options to redevelop the complex while preserving its heritage value and distinctive industrial character.
The City of Antwerp says the investment represents another step in protecting an iconic part of the city’s maritime and industrial past, while further enhancing the Eilandje waterfront district.
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