Lange Ridderstraat is one of the streets that will be permanently organised as a garden street following a successful test period. In consultation with the residents, the existing hard surface was replaced with planting beds, trees, herb and vegetable gardens, small lawns, and climbing plants, etc. Special attention was devoted to ensuring a coordinated approach to rainwater collection with regard to the surface and the substrate.

In the project approach, Antwerp’s ambition is to experiment with the application of new techniques, co-creation with residents and handling maintenance after construction. The pilot projects initially served as a testing ground for optimising the various aspects of the garden street and for creating a sustainable support base among residents. The transformation of Lange Ridderstraat serves as the starting shot so the garden street can be applied extensively throughout the city in the future.