Sint-Niklaas (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Belgium’s largest market square is being renovated, led by Alderman Carl Hanssens. The project costs €1 million and includes waterproofing the parking lot. It’s halfway done and will finish by summer 2025, with 120 trees to be planted.
Belgium’s largest market square has been renovated since May and is now halfway done. Carl Hanssens, the Alderman for Urban Development, said the work is going well. Parklaan is almost finished, which will let traffic back through soon. The roads in Parkstraat and Grote Mark, near the city hall, have also been paved. Around sixty workers are on-site daily, weather permitting, and the project will be done before the construction holiday in 2025.
What are the key features and costs of the Grote Markt renovation in Sint-Niklaas?
A key part of the renovation is making the underground parking lot waterproof, which wasn’t done well in 2005. Alderman Hanssens said fixing the sealing is complicated but important. The work will take time and cost about 1 million euros. He also mentioned that the renovation of Grote Mark aims to improve important features, not just make the city centre look nicer. New restrooms, lift pits, and a technical room are being added to the parking lot.
Renovation work will lay 5,600 square meters of concrete and reuse 7,000 square meters of clay pavers from the 14,000 square meters taken out. After Christmas, the team will continue with the footpaths and then move to the area between Houtbriel and Parklaan. In spring, they plan to plant about 120 trees, and a water storage area has already been dug. The next phase will start in late February on the other side of the Grote Mark, with the project expected to be done by summer 2025.
