On 26 June 2026, the renewed Arenaplein in Deurne-Zuid was opened. The square, located in the far western part of the Arena district, is the first visible result of the broader renewal of the Arena district that the City of Antwerp and Woonhaven Antwerpen are carrying out together, with AG Vespa as coordinator of the project.
The Arenaplein was redeveloped as a green, low-traffic and climate-resilient square, with more space for gathering, sport and play. Additional trees and green areas were added, wadis and water buffers were provided to capture rainwater and allow it to infiltrate, and the new walking and cycling paths make the area safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists. The square also offers space for sports fields, seating areas, the weekly market and small-scale events, and thus forms an important meeting place for the neighbourhood.
We are grateful to have been able to provide legal guidance to AG Vespa in developing the legal structure for part of this project. In this context, we contributed to a solution based on an easement, coupled with an accessory right of superficies. This arrangement makes it possible to lay out and manage public domain on land owned by another party, with clear agreements on usage rights and ownership of the infrastructure installed, without unnecessary complexity for the parties involved.
With this modest contribution to the redevelopment of the Arenaplein, we were able to help anchor an important public urban project in a legally robust way. Such questions concerning easements, rights of superficies and other property rights arise regularly in complex public-private (re)development projects. We are happy to put our expertise in public real estate and project law to work in supporting governments and their partners with these matters.