The largest city of Flanders, Antwerp is located in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. With a rapidly increasing population of over 520 000 inhabitants, it represents close to 8% of the total Flemish population. This rapid growth poses challenges due to densification, traffic, housing and the provision of services. Such challenges have spurred the city to start building its digital innovation ecosystem right at the heart of its historic city centre. 

Through its digital transition, Antwerp is adding a new layer to a historical city - not of bricks and stones but of data, networks and support services. 

The city’s objective is to create the necessary conditions for the development of digital technology by installing a testbed that will provide IoT developers a vast amount of data produced by a network of sensors and internet access gates. It also aspires to create a fertile environment for entrepreneurship by facilitating business incubators, anchoring growth-stage companies. 
 
Antwerp aims to become a hotbed for digital innovation and a growing digital economy. 
 
Antwerp was a mentor city in the DCC.