Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A newborn was found in the Mothers for Mothers baby hatch in Antwerp’s Borgerhout. Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg is the appointed guardian, with staff providing round-the-clock care and legal procedures underway.
As VRT News reported, a newborn baby was found this morning, Oct 11, 2025, in the baby hatch at Mothers for Mothers in Antwerp’s Borgerhout. Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg has been appointed as the official guardian. She will oversee the baby’s medical care, legal registration, and all other necessary arrangements.
What happened at Antwerp’s Borgerhout baby hatch this year?
The newborn recently discovered in the hatch is the 21st foundling since the program began. A team of “core caregivers” is providing round-the-clock care and monitoring the baby’s health. Under Belgian law, the mother has 6 months to reconsider her decision and may reclaim the child during that period.
This is the second case this year at the Borgerhout baby hatch. At the end of August 2025, another infant was left in the same facility. Following the procedure, Mayor Van Doesburg named that baby Nina.
The Mothers for Mothers foundling hatch in Borgerhout is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. Established in 2000. The first infant was placed in 2004. Since then, the facility has become a vital resource for vulnerable newborns. The hatch works with a sliding drawer system that triggers an alarm when a baby is placed inside, allowing staff to provide immediate care.
