Subscribe to the newsletter
Where newly built ships used to roll down the slipway, three brand new residential towers now stand tall. The ‘Kop van het Dok’ is one of the latest developments in what is to become a completely revamped Scheldekwartier. The project is a residential care plan that has been carried out by local care provider WVO Zorg and comprises a total of 182 owner-occupied and rental flats.
The view from the three tower flats, with the Damen Naval head office on the left.
The flats are almost finished and the first residents have already moved in. “In Zeeland, this is the first project on this large scale, linking a nursing home and assisted living apartments,” explains Peter Hoefkens, Project Manager at WVO Zorg.
On behalf of WVO Zorg, estate agents Schinkel de Weerd Makelaardij are handling the sale and rental of the flats. “The location is unique, close to the city centre and with care facilities right next door,” says Ben de Weerd, NVM Broker-Appraiser at Schinkel de Weerd Makelaardij. “Many people know this area from the Schelde [shipyard] era. The project is an asset for Vlissingen, with an eye for preserving cultural-historical heritage!”
The place where the towers now stand, used to be the ramp where constructed ships rolled into the water.
The ‘Kop van het Dok’ still contains elements from the Schelde era. For example, there is an external lift with a very special walkway to the complex. Peter: “The funny thing about the walkway is that it is made of steel beams from the overhead cranes that were left over from the former Heavy Sheet Metal Works. These beams now serve as a wind catcher between the adjacent Scheldehof residential care centre and Kop van het Dok.”
As with any project, the construction of the accommodation complex also faced challenges. “People were afraid of the weather, given the height of the towers. But actually that turned out to be much better than expected. It was only occasionally that the tall cranes could not work because of strong winds,” Peter says. With most of the complex now completed, many floors are already occupied. The flats have a unique view over the Dock, the Westerschelde and the city centre.