Harbour Quarter Deventer
The Flemish approach
Everyone knows: you pass the old silos at the sluice, and then you are really in Deventer. But the surrounding area holds some surprises. Here in the harbour, a stone's throw from downtown, is fertile ground for new initiatives in working, living and culture. Hence the 'Flemish' approach. The starting point is maximum conservation and reuse. Realize your dreams in one of the old silos, warehouses or factories, or build yourself a new home business! The renewal process is organic. The rate is determined mainly by the question: when does the initiator want to start building?
Deventer goes Flemish. This idea has been elaborated in a development plan, approved by the city council (2010). A number of concrete initiatives have already been privately launched; they are the drivers of the development.
Details
- Date
- 2007-2016
- Product
- Competition (winner), feasibility study, development plan, design guidelines and supervision
- Clients
- Municipality of Deventer
- Project website
- Havenkwartier website
- Contact
- Marjolein Dekker
Marjolein@welovethecity.eu
Delfshavense Schie Rotterdam
»The Flemish model in the Harbour Quarter

The Flemish model is based on organic growth, maximum conservation & reuse and space for private individuals and small developers with unorthodox ideas.
view detailsRoom for ambitions

The Deventer Harbour Quarter is the result of an interplay between the municipality, province, entrepreneurs, residents and other parties that are really willing to invest in the area. They find each other in the five joint aspirations for the area: popular living, heritage as inspiration, discovery of the harbor, working in the city and free place for ideas.
view detailsEntrepreneurs in the Harbour Quarter
At the Harbour Quarter there are more than 100 innovative companies, ranging from self-employed workers in the creative and leisure sectors to medium-sized companies at the interface of engineering, production and sales.
view detailsSelf and collective houses in development
The Harbour Quarter makes space for doers who alone or together want to achieve their dream home. The entrepreneurial and robust nature of the Harbour Quarter does not make this a dime-a-dozen district. All plots are sold and the first families have now settled in their new homes.
view detailsOn the way to the city centre
All streets surrounding Harbour Quarter are renewed. The High Silo marks the entrance to the city centre.
view detailsDownload our work

Our Development Plan set the radical new direction for the development of the Harbour Quarter. More documents followed; download them all here.
view detailsObjectONE: winner announced
Hegeman Ontwikkeling and Space&Matter present 'smart frame'
view detailsBuilding of the Year 2015
Self-build Harbour Quarter nominated: vote now!
view detailsTransformation in full swing
Bella Macchina presents plan, opens Lucy Cube, and first pile for self- built homes
view detailsPolitician Theo Rietkerk: Harbour Quarter provides new jobs

Opening of the new Harbour Square and "Creation in Fire and Metal"
view detailsProvince North Brabant in Deventer Harbour Quarter
Exploratory role of province as partner in urban development
view details"Most flexible zoning plan in the Netherlands"
Harbour Quarter zoning plan approved
view detailsHarbour Quarter in the media
Invitation urban design yearbook & complaining tenants incubator space
view detailsPositive reactions in Harbour Quarter
Things are happening in Harbour Quarter
view detailsDevelopment plan Deventer Harbour quarter approved
Deventer votes to create space for ideas in Harbour Quarter
view details