Vegetable gardens, cycle track and hammocks: if you want to relax, you should go to the Jan De Voslei central reservation (Antwerp)

The roof of the tunnel that runs under the Jan De Voslei takes up an immense part of the central reservation, but was not accessible until recently. Since the 1970s, the roof has formed a wall between the Exhibition District and Kiel, two neighborhoods where many people live. They needed more public space to relax and exercise. In addition, the place was known for its nuisance due to illegal dumping and drug users.

READ ALSO. Antwerp fears losing subsidies for the green construction of the Jan De Voslei tunnel roof

That is why the city has taken temporary measures with the Cap-a-City project, which falls within the Ringpark Zuid development, to transform the central reservation into a new piece of public space. She received financial support for this from the Flemish Urban Policy.

“We want to correct the mistakes of the 1970s. And Cap-a-City is a short-term solution to give the neighborhood a nice refreshment.”

Bart De Wever (N-VA)

Mayor of Antwerp

“When the Jan De Voslei was constructed in the 1970s, little attention was paid to the quality of life and the presence of greenery in the street,” says Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA). “We want to correct those mistakes. And Cap-a-City is a short-term solution to give the neighborhood a nice refreshment. Later, the Ringpark Zuid will be resurrected from this and the central reservation will be given a permanent purpose.”

Visitors can help determine what the central reservation will ultimately look like. “We want to create a linear garden so that there is a safe space where people can come together. Today we can already open the first phase. The intention is for visitors to test out the place and then provide feedback,” says project leader Maud Coppenrath.

For the time being, there is already a steel pergola with hammocks and a stage where there is room for neighborhood initiatives. In addition, there is an artistic floor painting on the tunnel roof and a bicycle course by Ride Your Future vzw. There are also some planters in which the neighborhood can grow vegetables together.

“With the further covering of the street and the connection to the new Ringpark Zuid, the neighborhoods will merge”

Jo Sneppe

Local resident

Local resident and street volunteer Ria Soetewey coordinates the vegetable gardens. “Previously, the Jan De Voslei was a dead desert. There was often nuisance from loitering youth or fly-tipping. That is why the provisional implementation is already a major improvement. The colorful lines on the ground attract people who happily follow the track. And the vegetable gardens provide social contact between local residents. I have currently already planted pumpkins, rhubarb, radishes and arugula.”

Local resident Jo Sneppe is also happy with the new design. “I have been living here since 1975. All that time, the Jan De Voslei has formed a hard barrier between Kiel and the Exhibition District. With the further covering of the street and the connection to the new Ringpark Zuid, the neighborhoods will merge.”

The installations will remain in place until after the summer. Until then, visitors can provide feedback to the city. Based on these evaluations, the city will decide what the permanent use of this part of the new Ring Park South will be. The final works will start in 2027.