Antwerp North, comprising the districts of Amandus-Atheneum and Stuivenberg, has become the city of Antwerp’s first official ‘priority neighbourhood’ with a focused plan to combat nuisance and enhance liveability.
Recently, residents of Stuivenberg took to the streets to demand increased efforts from the city to improve living conditions following a fatal stabbing in broad daylight at a popular square and ongoing issues related to drugs and other nuisances.
In response, the city administration has now designated Antwerp North as a ‘priority neighbourhood’. This term, introduced in the N-VA and Vooruit coalition agreement, aims to address areas with complex safety and liveability challenges.
It will do this through coordinated measures, with criteria such as high population density, frequent relocations, housing issues, social inequality, unlawful residence problems, and vulnerabilities in education, employment, and health.
A ‘neighbourhood action plan’ will be developed for Amandus-Atheneum and Stuivenberg to address these issues across various domains. A programme leader will oversee the coordination, while a neighbourhood coordinator will be appointed for day-to-day management. Specific measures are yet to be announced.
"Antwerp North is a challenging neighbourhood with significant potential," says Karim Bachar, Councillor for Social Cohesion (Vooruit). “By designating it as a priority area, we are committing to improved liveability, more opportunities for youth, extra focus on well-being, and stronger community bonds. We will work beyond jurisdictional boundaries in consultation with residents.”
