From August 1, visitors to the city of Antwerp will experience the new parking policy and the car will have to give way partly on the street.
This measure, which is intended to make the city center more attractive for pedestrians, may feel like a financial blow to some entrepreneurs. On the other hand, the Antwerp Alderman for Mobility, Koen Kennis (N-VA), assures that it can often be cheaper to obtain a city-wide permit.
Residents who are domiciled in the new parking zone will not be inconvenienced. Provided they have a permit, they can park unlimited and free of charge in their resident zone. In addition, disabled people who have a special parking card can park for free in all zones. More than 5.000 people in Antwerp have this card, and many have already registered in the new parking zone.
For entrepreneurs, this change entails more. Companies like cleaning services and handyman companies who carry out their work in the heart of the city will now have to pay € 1.966,25 per trimester per license plate. This contribution allows them to park all year round throughout Antwerp at no extra cost.
However, shared mobility remains unchanged. Shared cars from professional services such as Poppy, Cambio, Green Mobility and Miles Mobility can still park free of charge in the historic center. Private car sharers retain their free parking privilege in their resident zone.
If you prefer to park on the outskirts of the city and then take public transport to the zoo, there are several P+R locations around Antwerp.
There are several public car parks in the vicinity of the zoo, such as Q-Park, Interparking, etc. Some of these car parks offer advantageous daily rates. It is advisable to check availability and rates in advance. Parking attendants will monitor compliance with these new rules. An offender will be fined based on the current rates. It is also important to note that payment terminals will disappear in the new parking zone, making it impossible for visitors to purchase a parking ticket via SMS.
Despite the changes, ships Knowledge emphasizes that Antwerp remains accessible to motorists. However, he advises them to use the public parking garages as much as possible. The new rules apply in the area bounded by Brouwersvliet and Ankerrui in the north, the Leien in the east and the streets Schelde-, Kronenburg- and Kasteelpleinstraat in the south. These streets themselves form the border and fall outside the new parking regulation.
It remains to be seen how these new measures will work out in practice and what the actual impact will be on residents, visitors and entrepreneurs.
