Former residents of the virtually deserted village of Doel, who sold their homes years ago to make way for the proposed expansion of the Port of Antwerp, will soon be able to repurchase them.
The Flemish government gave the green light for the buy-back on Friday after the planned expansion did not materialise, it was confirmed on Monday.
Doel is located near the River Scheldt, next to the Deurganckdok, a dock for giant ships delivering goods to Antwerp Port. Plans for a second dock alongside the Deurganckdok had meant the end of the village, situated between Port Antwerp and the Doel nuclear site.
Doel had over 1,000 residents in the 1970s. Most were forced to leave due to the plans to expand the port. However, the plans were later modified, with the second dock being built at a slightly different site, leaving room for Doel.
The polder village reached an agreement with the Flemish government in 2022 to ensure its habitability, following the modification of the original project. A new dock will be constructed, but the districts of Ouden Doel, Rapenburg, Saftingen and Oud Arenberg will be preserved.
Initially, dozens of empty houses will undergo renovation. On Friday, the government authorised the company managing land policy in the port area to offer homes to individuals who had sold their houses to the authorities previously.
Fifty percent of the proceeds will go towards new investments in housing in Doel.
