Umicore in Hoboken welcomes Alderman Koen Kennis to connecting road along its site

Umicore's Hoboken site today welcomed Antwerp Alderman for Mobility Koen Kennis for a site visit to outline the progress of the connecting road between Hoboken’s Moretusburg area and Hemiksem, and the incorporation of part of Adolf Greinerstraat into the site premises. 

From the end of 2025, the connecting road is expected to replace the Adolf Greinerstraat, which separates the SEVESO site, where strict security measures apply. The current main industrial road connects several industrial sites in Hoboken and Hemiksem and is accessible to all road users - from pedestrians to freight traffic, as well as traffic between both parts of the Umicore site. This situation is therefore not ideal for safe and smooth traffic flow. 

The project improves traffic safety and infrastructure, reduces the chance of dust drifting up in the area from logistics activities, and contributes to an improved living environment for residents. The new road runs alongside the future green zone. This five-hectare woodland is a separate initiative realized by Umicore to create distance between the neighborhood and the plant site. 

Umicore is taking on the financing and implementation of the project. This involves making available part of its own premises on the north side for the road’s construction, the carrying out of all works including the construction of a segregated bike and walking path and water park, as well as repair works on the Adolf Greinerstraat and its merger into the site.

"This project of constructing the new, wider connecting road and spacious bike path through a green area is a strategic investment in improving traffic safety and flow as well as residential experience. Our collaboration with Umicore shows how public-private partnerships can offer economic and sustainable solutions and benefits. I want to thank Umicore's Hoboken site for their significant commitment and cooperation on this project which represents a strong example of future urban infrastructure.”

Koen Kennis, Alderman for Mobility for the City of Antwerp

"This investment underlines our ongoing commitment to a good co-existence between our site and the neighborhood. The new road will benefit the safety and convenience for all road users and our employees, while making the Adolf Greinerstraat part of our site will further reduce windblown dust in the neighborhood. This project together with the green zone provides a pleasant living environment for residents. We are pleased with the smooth and decisive cooperation with Alderman Koen Kennis and the district to successfully realize this project,” said Johan Ramharter, director of Umicore's Hoboken site. 

Both jointly announced the new connecting road in 2022. Work began in June 2024. The Hoboken District and the city of Antwerp are following up on the coordination of all public domain works and other works in the district.

Additional information

Greening 

Umicore is providing 3.7 hectares of its premises for the construction of the two-kilometer connecting road, along with a separated bicycle path, a “canal system” and/or green strip. A total of 243 trees and 244 shrubs will be planted. Two wadis (water drainage and infiltration) in the road’s north curve will collect rainwater.

The road and bike path north of the site run between the future green zone and the factory premises. The residential area will therefore be separated from the new road by the green zone of five acres of native wetland forest, the planting of which began in December 2024. The site itself will be further greened with more than half a hectare, including the planting of a green strip on the north and east sides. This planting complements the existing one-hectare green zone on the site.

Improved infrastructure

Umicore is constructing a separate bike path to replace the Curiestraat, up to the railroad tracks. The bicycle path is two-way with a total width of four meters and turns into a bicycle street at Kaarderstraat. This connects at the Wolplein, to the redevelopment of a part of the Adolf Greinerstraat proposed by the Hoboken district. On the Hemiksem side, the bike path joins the one-way bike paths of Praetstraat. 

The section of Adolf Greinerstraat that cuts across the Umicore site will become one with the 116-hectare plant site.

Critical raw materials

As one of the largest and most complex recycling operations for precious and other critical, non-ferrous metals worldwide, the Umicore site in Hoboken is crucial in the circular economy. The site processes more than 200 different types of raw materials, such as electronic waste, used batteries and industrial by-products, and recycles from them about 20 critical metals, seven of which are precious metals. All these metals are of strategic importance for the economy and technological innovation, especially in applications for the energy transition. The recovery and reuse of these critical raw materials contributes to the sustainability and self-sufficiency of industry.