Stretching along the riverside in southern Antwerp, the first phase of an ambitious 6km waterfront promenade was completed in 2019.
It replaces a former wasteland used as a huge car park. Now it is a broad paved waterfront with wood block benches, a playground and street art by graphic designer Kevin Lauryssen.
But climate experts are now arguing that the newly-paved promenade is poorly designed to meet the urgent need for urban cool spots.
The next stage, due to be completed next summer, aims to be more resilient during future heatwaves by including a park planted with elms, weeping willows and hedges. ‘This will provide excellent air conditioning whenever Antwerp is hit by a heatwave,’ claims Flemish environment minister Zuhal Demir.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
