Antwerp’s Cool Spots: Local Solutions to Urban Heat, Belgium

Key Learnings

• Pilot projects are essential for testing feasibility, costs, and maintenance needs. Their insights will guide Antwerp’s climate and greening plans in the next five to ten years. Each pilot helps the city understand what is realistic and sustainable before scaling up across neighbourhood plans and future climate strategies.
• Cool spots are scalable and replicable across streets, parks, and squares and will be embedded in all new public space plans. The city’s experience shows that even small, well-designed areas can make a real difference in comfort during heatwaves and can be easily adapted to different urban layouts.
• Collaborative development of the community improves outcomes by fostering ownership and ensuring local relevance. By involving residents in the design and maintenance of green spaces like garden streets, Antwerp strengthens local engagement and ensures long-term care of these shared areas.
• Data-driven planning is effective, with the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature indicator and heat maps guiding targeted, impactful interventions. This evidence-based approach helps identify priority areas and tailor solutions that balance livability, mobility, and financial constraints.

Summary

Antwerp, a densely populated city in northern Belgium, is tackling rising urban temperatures with a dual strategy that combines immediate heat relief and long-term adaptation. In the short term, the city aims to provide all its residents with access to 'cool spots' within 150m walking distance of their homes. The cool spots – shaded, green public spaces designed using scientific indicators of heat stress, such as Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and radiation mapping - each cover at least 200 m² and offer tree canopy, seating, and a drinking water fountain. At the same time, Antwerp is scaling up systemic greening through initiatives, such as 'Future Trees' and 'Garden Streets', as well as offering incentives to schools, homeowners and communities to green private and public spaces. These efforts, jointly developed with citizens and backed by data, improve urban resilience and offer a replicable model for heat-prone cities.

Contact

Allison Le Corre: allison [dot] le-correeumayors [dot] eu (allison[dot]le-corre[at]eumayors[dot]eu)