April 2, 2026 News
Climate resilient Antwerp · Wijken Struisbeek and Merksem-West, Antwerp, Belgium
A green-blue framework to combat the effects of climate-change
Climate-resilient Antwerp by 2040
In an interdisciplinary collaboration with the hydrological agency Nelen and Schuurmans, we have developed an integrated blue-green approach in three vulnerable districts of Antwerp: Struisbeek, Merksem-West, and Morkhoven Groenenhoek. This tailor-made methodology will be implemented in phases over the coming years through street projects and maintenance.
Flood-reduction by
3700 m³
Through the integration of wadi’s, brooks and infiltration
Measure against drought
48000 m³
Increase in groundwater table through added infiltration in parks and depaved areas
Cool zones
17
New green cool spots added to the urban fabric within 150 m of residents' homes
New target species
14
Support for target species with the establishment of the green-blue network, enhancing biodiversity with 1500 new trees and 4 new habitats
Current situation at Merksem-West
The historic east-west oriented drainage structure with the three natural streams has been disrupted by land reclamation, urbanization, canalization, and roofing into wide, largely paved roads
From data to design
Using the ‘Rekenen en Tekenen’ process (translated as ‘Calculating and Drawing’) with Nelen & Schuurmans, we quantified the climate adaptation challenge and assessed the proposed measures. This work alternated with an integrated design approach that embedded these measures into the neighbourhood to reinforce its spatial structure. A resulting combination of measures aims to make the neighbourhoods future-proof, demonstrating the uniqueness and success of the collaboration.
Water strategies follow the Lansink Ladder principle: by preventing runoff in the upstream area and retaining more water locally, flooding in the lower parts can be reduced/ avoided
Temperatures are lowered by increasing green spaces through shaded routes—parks, park lanes, tree-lined cycle paths, and main streets—and a network of cool spots spaced about 300 meters apart
Alongside the pocket parks (>0.5 ha), a network of green and unpaved routes enhances the green experience, increases shade, and boosts biodiversity. De-hardening also improves infiltration, preventing flooding and drought damage
Green-Blue typologies for climate adaptation
The most effective measures, composed of distinct green-blue typologies, builds on the district’s historical spatial characteristics and addresses key challenges related to flooding, drought, heat, greenery, and ecological networks. It also reinforces the spatial framework—linking parks, post-war city roads, former stream corridors, and tree-lined residential streets—while strengthening the neighborhood’s overall green identity.
Overview map showing the strategic green-blue structures for the Merksem-West project area.
A fourfold climate approach
The typical street profile illustrates a comprehensive overview of local measures to manage flooding, reduce heat, and enhance green space, making it easy to select and combine solutions. These measures can be integrated on-site to create targeted, coordinated, multi-benefit, fourfold spatial interventions.
Transforming Nieuwdreef and Maantjessteenweg from paved traffic corridors into blue-green streets creates cooler, climate-adaptive public spaces. Nieuwdreef gains permeable surfaces, layered planting, lush green verges and shade trees along the ‘nerf’ route, while restoring the historic stream along Maantjessteenweg, supported by a linear stream park, adds upstream buffering, reduces flooding and transforms the four-lane road into a biodiversity-rich space.
“The project demonstrates that existing cities can become climate-adaptive by reactivating their origins in water and green infrastructure to shape a new and stronger identity.”
— Janneke van Bergen, Senior project leader | Regional and water design specialist, OKRA
Antwerp as a model for climate-resilience
The Water and Green Neighbourhood Plan for Antwerp shows that climate-adaptive measures can be effectively embedded within existing urban structures, enabling climate challenges to be addressed from city to neighbourhood level. Supported by a digital prediction model 3Di, this interdisciplinary design method allows resilience to future climate extremes to be tested and strengthened in a context-specific way. The fourfold climate-adaptation framework translates diverse demands into spatially feasible and locally meaningful solutions, while the toolboxes and blue–green typology enable residents and decision-makers to explore options and participate actively. This manual will guide future street development and support a citywide approach to climate-resilient urban planning.
