Draft:Antwerpen-Noord

• Comment: Please add more sources and inline citations. Hey man im josh (talk) 18:52, 22 January 2025 (UTC)

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Antwerp 2060
Aerial view of the Antwerp 2060 from Sinksenfoor
Map of 2060
Coordinates: 51°15′36″N 04°24′09″E
Country	Belgium
Region	Flanders
Municipality	Antwerp
Districts of Antwerp	Antwerp (district)
Population  (january 1st 2024)
• Total	43,930

Antwerpen-Noord, colloquially also known by its postal code as Antwerpen 2060, is a neighborhood in the Belgian city of Antwerp. It is roughly confined by the Italiëlei in the west, Gemeentestraat and Carnotstraat in the south, Kerkstraat and Pothoekstraat in the east and the Albert Canal and other docks in the north.

History

The area that is currently known as Antwerpen-Noord has a long history as a rural outpost of the city of Antwerp. Its development is closely tied to the city's repeated expansion of its fortifications. A major turning point came with the demolition of the Spanish walls, starting in 1864, to accommodate the rapid growth of Antwerp after the reopening of the River Scheldt. These walls, constructed in 1542 under the orders of Emperor Charles V, were replaced a boulevard that now forms the western boundary of Antwerpen-Noord.

Geography and Early Developments

Before the 19th century, development in the area was minimal due to restrictions against constructing stone buildings near the city walls. These restrictions were intended to deny shelter to potential enemies in case of a siege. Beyond the defensive perimeter, the land served a mix of purposes. The fertile soils of the Stuivenberg supported vegetable farming for the city, while the higher elevation was ideal for windmills, which have since disappeared but are still commemorated in local toponyms. Besides that, certain functions that required space outside the city walls found a home in the area. One such example was a quarantine house, predating the area's later role in public health with the Stuivenberg hospital.

The area's strategic importance is evident in the construction of military fortifications. In the 16th century, Fort Pereyra was established as part of the Spanish Netherlands’ defenses during the Eighty Years' War. This fort was later replaced by Fort Carnot in the Napoleonic period, named after the French general Lazare Carnot, who played a key role in fortification science. Positioned on the Stuivenberg, these forts provided vantage points and protected Antwerp from external threats. They also reinforced the area's military character, which persisted until the construction of the Brialmont fortifications in the mid-19th century.

The Vuilbeek (also known as the Potvliet) marked the natural border between Antwerpen-Noord and its eastern neighbor, Borgerhout. This stream, whose name reflects the poor water quality from upstream bleaching activities, served as a drainage channel in the rural landscape. Its former course now defines the boundary between Antwerp and Borgerhout districts and is marked by stones embedded in the pavement.

The Saint-Willibrord Church, located north of what is now the Carnotstraat, was the first settlement center outside Antwerp’s medieval walls. The surrounding area, historically a rural parish, was nicknamed “peeboeren” (carrot growers) due to the prevalence of vegetable farming. The Carnotstraat itself, an important trade route to Turnhout, is named after Lazare Carnot, who notably spared Borgerhout from destruction during the Napoleonic Wars.

The area also housed hoven van plaisantie, or pleasure gardens, which were summer retreats for Antwerp's elite. One confirmed site was the Scholiershof, though the Stuivenberg area was less densely developed with such estates compared to other parts of Antwerp's outskirts.

The area's development was repeatedly stalled by warfare. In 1543, during the tumultuous period of the Eighty Years’ War, the region was sacked by Maarten van Rossum, a notorious military commander. This contributed to its sparse settlement and underdeveloped character well into the 19th century.

Industrialization

The demolition of the Spanish walls in the 1860s brought both opportunities and challenges to Antwerpen-Noord. The removal of building restrictions led to rapid urban expansion, but this was overshadowed by the construction of new fortifications under Henri Alexis Brialmont, as Antwerp was designated the national redoubt of Belgium. The cleared area between the old and new walls became known as “de vijfde wijk” (the fifth district), attracting intense local opposition. This culminated in the rise of the Meeting Party, which gained political prominence.

Urban expansion was largely driven by private landowners, who prioritized profit, leading to a dense street network. The resulting alleys (gangen, stegen, or beluiken) were cramped and unsanitary, offering affordable but substandard housing for unskilled laborers. You can, however, still notice traces of the area's topological history in certain streets that predate the landowners' interventions, as their routes were shaped by older paths following natural features and historical connections.

Urban exodus, migration and redevelopment

The industrialization of Antwerp in the late 19th century transformed Antwerpen-Noord. Workers were drawn by employment opportunities at railway depots and factories, as well as the city's resurgence as a major port following the reopening of the Scheldt in 1863. The population included migrants from rural areas and former residents of overcrowded city-center neighborhoods like Sint-Andries.

In the mid-20th century, socio-economic changes and suburbanization led many native Belgians to leave the area, creating space for guest workers from countries like Morocco and Turkey. Initially intended as temporary laborers, many settled permanently, contributing to the area's cultural diversity but also to social tensions due to limited integration policies. In the 1980s, Antwerpen-Noord became a stronghold of the Vlaams Blok, reflecting these challenges.

Since the late 20th century, significant efforts have been made to rejuvenate Antwerpen-Noord. Public investments have focused on improving infrastructure and housing. Despite these efforts, the district continues to grapple with socio-economic disparities, preserving its complex identity as a dynamic yet historically layered part of Antwerp.

Names & Quarters

Seefhoek - Faboert - 2060 - Vijfde Wijk - ...

Chinatown & De Coninckplein

Atheneum

Amandus

Stuivenberg

Sint-Willibrordus

Dam

Public institutions

scholen, typische stijl

Stuivenberg

Zwembad

Green

While green is sparse in the area, there are some parks and other amenities. In 2008, the former NMBS railway maintenance sites were converted into the largest park of Antwerp with 18 ha, entirely in Antwerpen-Noord. Close by is the Stuivenbergplein.

Economy

Veritas

Sint-Gummaruststraat

Diepestraat

Offerandestraat

Carnotstraat

Public transport

Close to the city center and with a large population, Antwerpen-Noord has benefitted from strong public transport links since the early days. In 1873, the first horse-drawn tramway was constructed, followed by the electrification of the network in 1902. A significant tram depot, known as Tram Maritime, was established in the Pothoekstraat, serving the growing network. By the mid-20th century, tram services expanded further, with the opening of additional lines such as tramline 12 in 1936, which connected the area to the port and other neighborhoods.

In the 1970s, the construction of Antwerp's premetro network brought significant changes to public transit in Antwerpen-Noord. Out of the 19 premetro stations in Antwerp, 7 are located in this district. Four of these stations—Astrid, Elisabeth, Handel, and Schijnpoort—are currently in use. Two additional stations, Stuivenberg and Willibrordus, are in the process of being opened, promising to improve access to underserved parts of the neighborhood. However, the Carnot ghost station, though constructed, remains unused and is not slated for future activation.

In the 1930s, the narrow streets and intense port activity along the route of tramline 6 led to its conversion into a trolleybus line. While the trolleybus system was ultimately phased out, the route is now served by a conventional bus line.

Antwerpen-Noord's railway connections also hold historical significance. The Antwerpen-Dam passenger railway station was a key transit point until its closure in 2007. Passenger services were rerouted through the underground rail tunnel to Antwerpen-Centraal, bypassing the older railway wall. Despite this, the Schijnpoort train depot remains a prominent feature of the area, continuing to serve as a vital logistical hub. Another, similar depot has been converted into a park.

Yearly events

Many local organisations organize gathering every now and then. Some bigger festivities that take place every year:

• Two times a year there is a fair at Sint-Jansplein, around one in the spring and one in autumn.

• The Noorderlicht Parade goes out during the month of december, forming a parade of candles and artworks through the streets.

• The local comittee near Willibrordus church organizes a festival “Kerkstraat plage” every summer and a winter happening “Warm Winters Wijkfeest in december.

Origin of street names

While there is no general pattern in the street names, many of them can be grouped in a few clusters.

• In reference to the Stuivenberg hospital and nascient modern medicine, some streets have been named after doctors. Examples: Boerhaavestraat, Jan Palfijnstraat, Van Helmontstraat, Korte and Lange Ypermanstraat.
• As an hommage to the pastoral history, many streets are named after horticultural and agricultural products. Examples: Tulpstraat, Veldstraat, Erwtenstraat, Selderstraat, Meloenstraat. Comparable: Duinstraat, Hederstraat, Herderinstraat.
• The opening of many streets happened just after the birth of Flemish literature. Most famously Hendrik Consience, but other writers too hail from Antwerp. Some streets are named after them. Examples: Zetternamstraat, Sleeckxstraat, August Sniedersstraat, Van Kerkchovenstraat.
• The triplet Rotterdam-, Holland- and Spoorstraat refers to the railway that originally went straight through the neighborhood on its way between Antwerpen-Centraal and the Netherlands.

Notable people

• Hendrik Conscience
• Vincent Van Gogh
• Laurent Gerstmans
• Alice Nahon
• Frans Detiège
• Willy Vandersteen
• Henri Coppens
• Panamarenko
• Robbe De Hert
• Leona Detiège
• Merho
• Jan Fabre
• Matthias Schoenaerts
• Tourist LeMC
• Noémie Wolfs

References

“De oude hoeve in den Pothoek”, Floris Prims, Gazet van Antwerpen, 30 mei 1931.

“De stad van de zeven bergen”, Floris Prims, Gazet van Antwerpen, 10 juni 1939.

”De Litteekens van den Stuivenberg”, Floris Prims, Gazet van Antwerpen, 19 augustus 1939.

”Drie wijken maken één buurt”, Frans Lauwers, Gazet van Antwerpen, 9 mei 2006.