De Esch coalition takes inspiration from the city of Antwerp

Last week, we visited the city of Antwerp to gather inspiration for De Esch. We explored Antwerp’s lesser-known Left Bank to see how the city is working to expand and redevelop this post-war urban expansion district. We also visited Nieuw Zuid, a new green urban district with a high density of development, where we were given a guided tour by Ron de Goeij and Sara Kooyman of CONIX RDBM Architects.

We ended the day at Groenkwartier and PAKT, a car-free, green residential neighbourhood shaped primarily by the formal and historic buildings of a former military barracks site, complemented by carefully integrated residential blocks and ground-level courtyard homes. The neighbouring PAKT development is a vibrant hub of activity and social life, where hospitality venues, workspaces and a gym are interwoven across three dimensions. The rooftops are crowned with green rooftop gardens, connected by walkways.

It was a day that allowed us to get to know one another in a different way, draw inspiration from Antwerp’s approach to urban development, and enjoy Belgian culture. Together, we concluded that urban densification and green spaces can go hand in hand, that Antwerp sets a high standard for building quality, and that public space in the Netherlands tends to be more explicitly part of the public realm.

We will carry these insights into our conversations with residents and municipalities as we work to strengthen De Esch while preserving its identity and values.

Consortium: Vesteda, Syntrus Achmea R.E.F., Stebru, Kraaijvanger, ERA Contour, Woonstad Rotterdam, Bakkers Hommen, ECHO urban design