The emergence of the Nieuwstad

We are standing at the edge of the Eilandje, once known as the ambitious ‘Nieuwstad’ that expanded Antwerp around 1550. The city gave visionary entrepreneur Gilbert van Schoonbeke a large stretch of marshland to develop in exchange for constructing new city fortifications.

On this land within the city walls, homes, workers’ dwellings, and warehouses arose along canals like the Brouwersvliet, Timmervliet, and Middelvliet. A new harbor district emerged, blending trade, shipping, and residential life, giving Antwerp a more modern, maritime character.

After Van Schoonbeke’s death, development continued. With the construction of docks such as the Bonaparte Dock and Willemdok, the district became surrounded by water and earned the name ’t Eilandje.

In the 20th century, port activities shifted further north, and the Eilandje fell into decline. But by the late 20th century, the neighborhood was revitalized: historic warehouses were restored, docks redeveloped, and cultural landmarks like MAS and the Red Star Line Museum brought new life. Today the Eilandje is a vibrant district where history and modernity meet.