Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Old hospital buildings in Antwerp (40% occupied) are now a community hub with Freinetschool Keerpunt (36 students), artist studios, shops, and social projects, led by Entrakt; Alderman Patrick Janssens supports it.
As VRT News reported, since early 2024, Antwerp has been working on something new. They’re using old hospital buildings for a different purpose. They’re letting different groups use the space temporarily. Entrakt is in charge of this project.
They’re making sure the empty buildings become lively. The public can visit for free all weekend. This includes local people, people from Antwerp, and visitors. There are many new groups in the buildings now.
There’s a free shop where people can reuse things. There’s also a vet clinic for people with low incomes. A coffee shop is there, too, adding an entrepreneurial touch. People can find a world kitchen fostering multicultural connections. There are artist studios and a music centre for artistic expression.
How is the old hospital site in Antwerp being transformed into a vibrant community space?
The old hospital buildings in Antwerp are being turned into a new community space. A Freinet school is now located there. This school teaches 36 children aged 12 to 15. They study art, culture, and how society works. The school community is happy in the old hospital.
They have everything they need to learn and create. They hope to stay in the area for many years. This project changes an empty place into a busy hub. It offers social help, art, learning, and business opportunities. The city wants to build a community by using these spaces in a useful way.
“This place is ideal for us,”
says Inge Buelens, who is a mentor at Freinetschool Keerpunt.
“We wanted a lively and ‘dirtier’ neighbourhood with a bit of an edge.”
According to officials, the old hospital site in Antwerp still has lots of space available, as it’s only 40% occupied right now. This means there’s plenty of room for new groups and ideas to come in. If people’re interested, they can visit the Entrakt stand during the opening weekend to learn more about what’s happening there and what they can do.
The site’s future is being planned, with a focus on keeping things lively. They mentioned that they might even remove some buildings to keep the place active and interesting. The main goal is to keep the creative feel of the community while making the space better for what’s needed in the future.
“We want to breathe new life into the site, with attention to the neighbourhood and social added value,”
says Alderman for Housing and Urban Development Patrick Janssens (Vooruit).
