Het Steen evacuated and temporarily closed due to strong odor nuisance, no one injured (Antwerp)

Het Steen in Antwerp was evacuated on Thursday. Some people had become unwell due to a very pungent odor. The odor nuisance appeared to come from work on Steenplein. The visitor center will remain closed for the time being.

The Antwerp Fire Department Zone received a report around 12 noon that several people at the Het Steen visitor center had become unwell. “There apparently was a very penetrating odor in the immediate area. Our teams went to the scene and were able to quickly determine that the smell came from the nearby works on the quays,” says spokesperson Ninke Neirynck of the Antwerp Fire Department Zone.

A coating layer was applied there, the smell that was released was reminiscent of epoxy. An ambulance arrived on the scene as a precaution, but fortunately no one was injured or had to go to hospital.

The fire brigade had Het Steen evacuated as a precaution. “It will remain closed to visitors for the time being as long as the odor nuisance has not disappeared,” says Neirynck. “It is not yet clear when that will be. The work is still ongoing and we are examining whether it can be carried out with a different product.” (jtp)