Deurne (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Deurne district council voted 11-10 against the tram reversing loop. PVDA, Groen, and Vooruit supported the motion, while N-VA opposed and Vlaams Belang abstained from voting.
As VRT News reported, the Deurne district of Antwerp, Belgium, council has spoken out against the controversial tram reversing loop planned on the border with Borgerhout, a project that has stirred tensions in Antwerp for years. At the council meeting in Deurne, the felling of trees and the future of the tram loop once again dominated the agenda.
After long discussions, 4 motions were approved and will now be submitted to the Antwerp city council. District members demanded more respect from the city and clearer communication on mobility projects that have a direct impact on residents.
What will happen to the controversial tram loop in the Deurne district?
The most striking motion was introduced by opposition parties PDA and CD&V, calling for the tram loop plans to be stopped. The proposal was narrowly approved by 11 votes to 10, with Vooruit and Groen in favour, N-VA against, and Vlaams Belang abstaining. Another motion urged the preservation of the market on Gitschotellei, which locals fear may disappear if the loop goes ahead.
The Deurne district council has voted against the tram reversing loop after a close decision. Opposition parties described the result as a victory for residents. PVDA party leader Ianthe Ghaye said the project would cut public transport spending, reduce green areas, and affect safety in the neighbourhood.
She welcomed the support of Groen and Vooruit, which gave the motion a majority in the council for the first time. PVDA and other supporting parties announced they will submit the motion to Mobility Alderman Koen Kennis (N-VA).
“Together, we will stop these crazy loop plans,” said Ghaye. “This motion sends a very clear message. We expect the Alderman to take this seriously.”
District mayor Tjerk Sekeris (N-VA) said the motion will not stop the project. He said that residents could see the result as symbolic but cautioned that it could create the perception that the loop could still be stopped.
He explained that the city is progressing and is now looking for a contractor to perform the work. Sekeris confirmed that the plans remain unchanged. The N-VA continues to support the tram loop at both the city and district levels.
“That’s how we approached voters during the elections,” Sekeris continues. “So everyone knew we would continue to defend the loop.”
The project was first introduced more than a decade ago as part of Antwerp’s mobility plans. The conflict came to a head in August 2025, when Mobility Alderman Koen Kennis (N-VA) ordered trees on the site to be cut without informing the neighbourhood. The sudden decision led to anger among residents and fueled mistrust in the city’s approach.
Demonstrations took place, and the political discourse became more contested as Kennis was confronted by criticisms at a municipal council meeting and during a contentious meeting of the Deurne district council. Meanwhile, legal challenges are ongoing as an appeal is awaiting consideration before the Council for Permit Disputes. The Deurne district council narrowly rejected the project in a vote on 18 September 2025.
