stad Antwerpen

Antwerp is a typical European city, shaped and determined by European history. With its location on the Scheldt and its flourishing world port (the second largest port in Europe), it is a melting pot of cultures. Antwerp is the fourth largest diamond centre in the world and famous for its expertise in fashion. Antwerp is proud of its rich history with world famous artists such as Rubens and Van Dyck. It is rightly ranked in the top ten of the world’s most interesting cities for tourists. The city is not only an interesting place to visit, but also to live and work. 521,000 people live in Antwerp, 29% are younger than 25. Antwerp has plenty to offer: high-quality education, childcare in the neighbourhood, squares to play, parks to relax, swimming pools and sports centres, libraries and cultural centres, cafés and restaurants, etc. After Brussels, it is the economic centre of Belgium, and after Copenhagen, it is the second best city in the world to work. In Antwerp, there are 147,000 young people and this number will increase the next few years. By 2026 even 211,000. The next few years the city will have to invest seriously in childcare, schools, houses, ..... Primarily, however, the city invests in sufficient space from, for and by young people. The Antwerp youth policy starts from voluntary youth work. The city has 212 recognized youth associations, which only rely on young volunteers. They give more than 20,000 Antwerp children and teenagers the time of their life. The city thanks all these youngsters for their commitment and also thanks the organizing and supporting umbrella organizations. The city supports these youth associations in different ways. Secondly, the city supports the youth associations in practice (lending material) and financially (with grants based on regulations) for their infrastructure and to buy special equipment. With government means, the city employs professional youth workers. Each year, the city enters into agreements with these youth organizations (external non-profit organizations) for mutual arrangements on results and financing. All with the aim of making young people familiar with a wide range of activities, involve more young people and support more young people in their own cultural activities. The city of Antwerp also has been investing for years in a play area policy. The youth department works at two levels: establish explicit play facilities (playgrounds, parks, play areas, squares, ...) and safeguard implicit play areas (play opportunities, way to school, ...).