Construction new prison Antwerp starts this autumn
The Régie des Bâtiments, the federal state's property manager, and the 'Hortus Conclusus' contractor consortium, consisting of Jan De Nul and EEG, today gave the official go-ahead for the construction of the new judgment house in Antwerp today. This was officially ratified by the signing of the financing for this public-private partnership (PPP) in Brussels. Construction will start this autumn; the opening is scheduled for spring 2026.
The new prison will be on the Blue Gate site, near Antwerp's Butterfly Palace. When completed, this new site will replace the current overcrowded and fiercely outdated prison on Begijnenstraat.
The construction of the prison is a public-private partnership, in which the government collaborates with private companies to realise projects. Here, the consortium 'Hortus Conclusus' is responsible for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the new prison.
The new detention house will accommodate 440 inmates split into 1 entity for 330 men, 1 entity for 66 women and 1 entity for dependents including a psychiatric ward for 44 people. The access on the southern side will connect to Olieweg.
Kristien De Vries, Project Director at Jan De Nul Group:"Today is a milestone for the project and for Jan De Nul. We are delighted to start this challenging civil engineering project this autumn. This is also the first public-private partnership for us to realise a building - after years of experience in PPP infrastructure projects. We are proud of our design of an inclusive building where cooperation and a positive team spirit within the prison walls are central."
The design of 'Hortus Conclusus' is committed to a future-oriented and ecological building.
The name of the consortium 'Hortus Conclusus' is no accidental choice. Hortus conclusus literally means an enclosed garden where it is safe to be. The consortium around the contractors Jan De Nul and EEG translates this philosophy into their design of the new prison.
The prison will consist of separate living units, which maximises communal living among inmates and stimulates outdoor activities. Prisoners will have a varied range of activities to learn new skills or discover hidden talents.
The site of about 7 hectares has a triangular shape. 2/3 of the site will be green space. A total of 1,600 trees will be planted.
The arrest house will be connected to the heating network of the Blue Gate site fed by sewage heat.
The construction of this prison is part of the federal government's master plan.
The master plan detention and internment in humane conditions commits to the renovation, expansion and new construction of detention houses in Belgium.
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