Park Spoor Noord, Urban recreational park in Antwerp, Belgium
Park Spoor Noord is a large public park built on a former railway yard in Antwerp, featuring open green areas, sports fields, playgrounds, and walking paths throughout the site. Modern facilities are carefully integrated into the landscape design.
The site was a railway depot from 1873, when it replaced the Dambrugge fort and Stuivenberg lunette, until the NMBS ended operations in 2001. In 1998 it was zoned for urban development, and the NMBS sold it to the city for one euro. Construction began in 2005 to designs by Studio Secchi-Viganò; the west opened in 2008 and the east in 2009.
The park hosts the Antwerp Santa Run and a fashion show by the nearby fashion school. The Cargo-Loods, a preserved railway building, stages performances, and in August 2010 the city opened its eleventh youth centre here. The former administration building now houses a music school.
The park is a broad, flat expanse of asphalt and lawn with few trees, so there is little shade; plan for sun or wind. Paths cross the site and link the Dam, Stuivenberg and Seefhoek districts. A small park bar sells drinks and snacks, mainly in summer, and a car-sharing point is nearby.
The park has almost no trees, a deliberate choice by designers Bernardo Secchi and Paola Viganò to reduce feelings of unsafety. The former administration building now houses a music school, and the old wagon sheds serve as sports and event halls; the Cargo-Loods hosts performances.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,468 contributors worldwide.