What Antwerp can learn from the evolution of international waterfronts
On warm summer days, it becomes clear just how important water is to a city. The Scheldt also provides space for recreation, social interaction, and cooling, while at the same time serving important economic, ecological, and infrastructure-related functions. Housing, work, mobility, recreation, nature, and climate adaptation all come together here. Reconciling these different functions, users, and interests is a complex challenge. This is especially true for the Antwerp Scheldt Quays, a 6.7-kilometer stretch that runs from Droogdokkeneiland in the north to Blue Gate Antwerp in the south. According to the 2010 master plan, this area will be redeveloped into seven subareas by 2030. The challenge lies not only in designing the waterfront, but above all in organizing the ecosystem around it.
The same evolution is visible in other cities with major waterways, such as London. Water is increasingly viewed not as a backdrop or city boundary, but as an integral part of urban life. Former port areas such as Canary Wharf and the Royal Docks illustrate how London's waterfront has evolved through different phases of development. Canary Wharf demonstrates how infrastructure and economic clustering can breathe new life into a former port area. In the Royal Docks, the focus is broader, with greater attention to livability, access to the water, local opportunities, and public life. What lessons can Antwerp learn from these experiences?
Lesson 1: How do you get people to actually use a waterfront?
An attractive concept design can show what a waterfront might look like, but it cannot tell whether people will feel welcome or actually use the space. That is why it is important to start with the users: who comes here, why, when, and under what conditions?
The opportunities along, on, and in the water also play an important role. Throughout the day and across the seasons, the Antwerp Scheldt Quays can serve different purposes, from a cycling route and gathering place to a space for events, relaxation, and cooling. The Royal Docks in London demonstrate how a wide range of activities, from water sports and events to living and working—can create different rhythms at a waterfront throughout the day. User research and temporary experiments can help identify which uses are most effective in practice.
Lesson 2: How do you organize the ecosystem around a waterway?
A waterfront is both a public space and a productive system, where residents and visitors share the area with businesses, mobility providers, port companies, and government authorities. By involving these stakeholders early in the process, tensions and blind spots become visible sooner. An integrated approach helps bring together their diverse interests and reconcile the Scheldt's public and ecological value with its economic and logistical functions.
Experiences from other cities can provide inspiration—not as a blueprint, but as a source of insights for the Antwerp context. The redevelopment of the Royal Docks is led through a partnership between the Mayor of London and the Mayor of the London Borough of Newham, together with local communities and private partners. Public space, local communities, economic development, transportation, and recreation all come together there, making coordination among a wide range of stakeholders essential. Royal Victoria Dock is a strong example of this approach. The former port area has evolved into a vibrant destination with cafés and restaurants, space to walk and relax along the waterfront, and recreational activities such as swimming in the dock and paddleboarding.
Lesson 3: Why shouldn't a master plan be a fixed end state?
A master plan should not be a fixed end state, as climate, mobility, and user needs are constantly evolving. The transformation of Canary Wharf from a purely commercial district in the 1990s into an increasingly mixed-use neighborhood with housing, green space, and public areas demonstrates why even successful waterfronts must remain adaptable.
By taking different future scenarios into account from the outset and translating new insights into policy and implementation, the Antwerp Scheldt Quays can continue to adapt to a changing context. Within the Connected River pilot areas, these scenarios and experiments can also help test new solutions, capture lessons learned, and adjust plans in a timely manner.
Conclusion: Success lies in the ecosystem, not just the design
The successful redevelopment of the Antwerp Scheldt Quays requires more than a strong design and successful delivery. The experiences from London show that waterfronts only function sustainably when stakeholders continue to learn from how the space is used, collaborate more effectively, and adapt plans in a timely manner. Ultimately, success lies not only in what is built, but also in the ability of the ecosystem surrounding the Scheldt to continuously align diverse functions, users, and interests.
Want to learn more about how Connected River is working toward safe, accessible, and livable waterways and waterfronts?
