IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 1

IN-SITE ANALYSIS

The scope of the in-site analysis document is according to the approved AF “to inform

participants on problems solved and good practices implemented”. The provided

information should be brief, in order participants of the Study Visits to have a clear view

of the Fortress and actions, projects and policies which have been developed around

it or planned to be developed.

Name of the Fortress, Location

ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM)

Conterscherp, 2040 Zandvliet https://goo.gl/maps/oYvE3RfvMMfsmjHX9

Brief Historical Background

Zandvliet is a village that is part of the Antwerp district ofBerendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo (BeZaLi) with 10.000inhabitants in total.

The place Zandvliet is already mentioned in 1135 asSantflit. This means "navigable stream through the sand".

In 1622-1627, the Spanish general Spinola transformedthe village of Zandvliet into a fortification with sevenstrongholds, in defense of Antwerp and as a base to thenorth. Nearby were the Lillo and Frederik-Hendrik Stateforts and the fortified city of Bergen-Op-Zoom. The workstook six years and gave the village the appearance of afortified city. And is comparable to Damme (which is betterpreserved)

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Frenchfinally drove the Spaniards out of Zandvliet and thefortress was demolished. In the street pattern of Zandvlietone can still largely find the route of the former fortress:Noordvest and Zuidvest, Conterscherp and Kattewal.

On 1 February 1953 there has been the biggest flooddisaster of the 20th century in the region, also in Zandvliet

In the 1960s the port expansion changed the polderlandscape and also the village.

Nicaise De Keyser, famous painter. KeyzerleiCurrent Status The north part of the fortress city is recognizable because

of the road Conterscherp, a beautiful cobblestone roadthrough the village of Zandvliet. This road forms the half ofthe ‘star’ shape with four (out of seven originally)strongholds (ramparts/bastions).

Unfortunately most of the former walls are built over andcanals are covered. most structures in the south havedisappearedsome places relief differences of the city wall

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 2

are still clearly visible. For example at the alley ‘Bergske af’ which means downhill.

there are also many a few street names that refer to the fortress city

o Conterscherp, which means o Spaansemolenstraat o Kattewal o Walenhoek

In general Zandvliet is a quite village with limited services and also the accessibility is low, most people rely on a car

the location nearby the port of Antwerp and the border with the Netherlands gives the place a special character, typical with border areas.

Zandvliet has many heritage walking tours and also mentions ‘the secrets of the Spanish city’ (de geheimen van de Spaansche stad)

Event of the year is Ganzenrijden (goose riding) and is typical tradition (folklore) in the polders

Recent projects implemented

Very limited Spatial structure plan for the polder villages Zandvliet and

Berendrecht (structuurschets) RUP landschapskamers ‘landscape chambres’ as an

action to keep building land open. This spatial implementation plan is in process (city of Antwerp)

Projects under implementation or planned to be implemented

Hiking trails survey and discussion of priorities/actions Memorial of 200 years Mill

Local, regional, national and/or European policies used related to the preservation of the Fortress and the development of the area

Preservation: Zandvliet, no preservation … The main part of the star shape of Zandvliet is covered

within the CHE-area: in this area there is extra attention for the architectural patrimony.

Development none

Local, regional and/or national stakeholders involved

Local District BeZaLi (Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo):

o Policy maker: Jan Smets (secretary) Rudi Sempels (heritage)

o civil servants: Frederick Bruneel (public space), Liesbeth Sleymer (communication), Pieter Linders (culture)

City of Antwerp, heritage: Johan Veeckman, Karen Minsaer

Port of Antwerp: heritage Sigrid Fruytier (heritage), Inge De Wolf (marketing Communication).

Local guide: Werner Bril (correspondent Simon Stevin)

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 3

University of Antwerp: Piet Lombaerde (prof. heritage) Regional Regional Landscape de Voorkempen: Ines Van

Limbergen, Sophie Maris, Anne Stuer Province of Antwerp, heritage: Joke Bungeneers Flemish region, heritage: Jasmine Michielsen, Dirk Artois National Simon Stevin stichting: Luc Olyslager EFFORTS: Raf De Roo

Public consultations (if any)

Public consultations in context of the structure plan Participation moment hiking trails and

Public opinion Zandvliet as ‘Spanish city’. The theme is included in the brochures of the heritage walks, however this is not translated into the field. The most important structure is ‘Conterscherp’.This is a disappointment at first sight but if you look further there are small accentuations and relief differences (for example Bergske af’ which means downhill)

Existing problems related the preservation of the Fortress and the development of the area

the location in the port area with safety rules (SEVESO) and more specifically the close proximity nuclear power plant Doel on the left river bank,

Problems solved related the preservation of the Fortress and the development of the area

Design of structure plan and RUP landschapskamers

Good practices used Not really, and if there is already one, maybe the preservation of Conterscherp

Policy instruments related to the Fortress preservation and development

Spatial structure plan for Berendrecht-Zandvliet Havenland, plan for recreation in the port of Antwerp.

Brief evaluation of the status before Study Visit

Zandvliet is a typical village in the Antwerp polders and seems like old times, it's a quiet life in Zandvliet, this is also due to the border region. The largest and most important decisions are taken by the Antwerp city council, in that sense the district BeZaLi is not independent. this

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 4

means that there are little or no investment in the city, however the new Leisure Center (Vrije Tijdscentrum) is a nice achievement and is the exception that confirms the rule.

without preliminary consultation or process there are some projects to think of for the fortified structures in Zandvliet, for example restoration of the canals and, for example, the public agricultural garden outside lacis, improving views of the inner ramparts and the village, making the Conterscherp car-free

Webpages related to the Fortress containing useful information for participants

Webpages in Dutch only

https://www.staatsspaanselinies.eu/nl/de-staats-

spaanse-linies/lijstweergave/linie:versterking-

zandvliet.htm

Heritage walking tours Zandvliet (in Dutch only) link

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 5

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ATTACHMENT MAPS & IMAGES

ZANDVLIET

Location of Zandliet within the Antwerp region

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 6

Map Ferraris 1777

Current aerial view

Digital Height Model (DHM) the inner wall is visible in some places

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 7

Preservations

CHE – area (city of Antwerp) residential area with cultural, historical and / or aesthetic value

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 8

Zandvliet in 17th century

Map of polders in 1797 Sketch of fortified structures Zandvliet

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 9

comparison Damme (above) and Zandvliet (below), both fortified towns from the same periode - State Spanish war (eighty years of war)

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 10

Conterscherp

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 11

Botermarkt

Goose ridning (Ganzenrijden) typical folklore in the polders

²

New Leisure Center and Church Bergske Af (downhill)

IN-SITE ANALYSIS – ZANDVLIET (ANTWERP REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, BELGIUM) 12

Structure plan: fortress structure as part of walking tour around the village (rondje dorp)

Heritage walking tour: reference to the Fotrtress city (Spanish city) and explanation about the seven-pointed star