Skippers’ quarter
Film about the city of Antwerp’s prize-winning approach to urban renewal in its red-light district
Commissioned by the Flemish Association for Space and Planning (VRP) [2007]
Direction and production of film
The film ‘Skippers’ quarter’ – the popular name of Antwerp’s red light district – was made in the context of the Flemish Spatial Planning Prize of 2006, the purpose of which is to recognize the achievements of a design bureau, community, or other organization with ‘particular insights, engagements, and actions within the areas of spatial planning and urbanism.’
The city of Antwerp won the prize for the broad yet precise way in which it approached the red light district in recent years, both socially and spatially.
The work was presented at the VRP study day, June 2007, and at ‘Urban Trialogues: co-productive ways to relate to visioning and strategic urban projects,’ an international congress for urban and regional planners held in Antwerp in September 2007. Can be purchased at the Antwerp municipal shop or via VRP.
Film
The film shows how the city worked on the problems of criminality and excessive prostitution, and how the district was reopened to the rest of the city. People from the neighborhood share their experiences.
English subtitles, 25 min.
At the right, two clips from the film featuring Mon Goossens and Renaat Holthof, two inhabitants of the skippers’ quarter, followed by Joris Wils, who is responsible for Antwerp’s prostitution policy.
Colophon
Direction and production
Terenja van Dijk
Camera
Jess De Gruyter
Sound
Sammy Goemaere
Editing
Terenja van Dijk, Jess De Gruyter