Bouwmogelijkheden Antwerpen

Parcel data in Antwerp: what you need to know

Antwerp uses the Flemish cadastre, which differs from the Dutch Kadaster. Official parcel data in Flanders is maintained by the General Administration of Patrimonial Documentation (AAPD), also known as the Flemish Cadastre. Parcels can be queried via the GRB-Skelet and the Flemish Geoportal.

1. Narrow plots in the Antwerp city centre

The historic city centre of Antwerp — the Eilandje, Zurenborg, Seefhoek and 19th-century belt — is characterised by terraced houses on narrow plots. Parcels of 4 to 6 metres wide are not unusual. This directly affects your building options:

• ✓A rear extension is permit-required if the depth exceeds 3.5 metres (Flemish norm, different from the Dutch 4 metres)
• ✓Side clearances in narrow streets are often smaller than the Flemish minimum norm — always check the RUP (Spatial Implementation Plan) for your neighbourhood
• ✓In protected townscape (including Grachtenwijk, Zurenborg, Seefhoek), any visible change to the façade requires a permit

2. Leasehold and easements

Antwerp, like Amsterdam, has a significant share of leasehold plots — particularly in port and industrial zones and in certain social housing projects. Easements are also common in residential areas: rights of way, utility easements, and construction-free strips along waterways are frequent in Antwerp.

3. Water test and flood risk

Antwerp lies partly in the Scheldt basin. For building applications, a water test is mandatory if the plot is in a flood-prone area. The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) publishes flood maps per parcel — a required check for every environmental permit application in Antwerp.

4. Permit-free building in Flanders: different from the Netherlands

Flanders has different exemption thresholds than the Netherlands. The main rules for Antwerp:

• ✓Garden sheds up to 15 m² and max 2.5 metres high are exempt from permits in the side and rear yard
• ✓Terrace covers and carports count as constructions and are almost always permit-required in Antwerp
• ✓In protected townscape, even small constructions require a permit — including garden fences higher than 1 metre

Always consult the Omgevingsloket Vlaanderen (omgevingsloket.be) for the current exemption rules for your address.