Construction started of Antwerp port experience centre
The construction of the new experience centre “Havenwereld”, or “Port World”, has officially started in Antwerp on Monday afternoon. The centre will present the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to the general public in an interactive way. It should be ready by June 2026.
At Antwerp's Dry Docks site, near the Red Star Line museum, the construction of the Havenwereld centre was officially launched. Havenwereld should bring the Port of Antwerp-Bruges closer to the locals. Formerly located in Lillo, the centre will now be located within walking distance of the city centre.
Havenwereld will be an interactive experience centre, primarily aimed at young people. They can get to know the port through games, practical assignments, educational programmes and workshops. They will discover both the maritime, logistics and industrial aspects of the port as well as the innovative processes that make the port a global player. The aim is to show young people that there is a great need for jobs in the port.
“Our port has an added value of 4.5 per cent of the gross domestic product and employs more than 160,000 people directly and indirectly, but is still relatively unknown to many Antwerp residents,” said Antwerp’s port alderman Johan Klaps to newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen. “We want to change that with Havenwereld.”
The new centre will also house an area in which the history of the port is explained. There will also be space for catering facilities and administrative and technical offices.
The construction of Havenwereld is made possible thanks to a collaboration between the province of Antwerp, the city of Antwerp, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and several companies in the port sector. All in all, 16 million euros will be invested in the project. The centre should open to the public by the summer of 2026.
#FlandersNewsService | Official launch of the construction works of Havenwereld © BELGA PHOTO ROBBE VANDEGEHUCHTE
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