In one of the most high-profile retail real estate transactions Belgium has seen in years, Tans Urban Landmarks and Urbicoon have signed Spanish fashion powerhouse Inditex as the anchor tenant for their Meir Corner project in Antwerp. Zara, Inditex’s flagship brand, will open its largest store globally in a newly developed 14,500 m² space, spanning three levels on Meir, the country’s most expensive shopping street.
“This is the biggest deal in our history and probably in the entire Belgian sector in a very long time,” said Nicolas Beaussillon, CEO of Tans Urban Landmarks, underlining the historic scale of the agreement.
Strategically located at the former Proximus site on the corner of Meir and Jezusstraat, Meir Corner is a €multimillion hybrid development blending retail, education and lifestyle. The building is set to feature a new 28,000 m² campus for KdG Hogeschool, sustainable design features such as green walkways, roof gardens and inner courtyards, and the reuse of historic façades, all while being lowered from 40 to 28 metres to harmonise with its urban surroundings.
“This development has everything an international brand needs to physically welcome its customers today and tomorrow,” said Herman Vluymans, CEO of Urbicoon, referencing the building’s architectural appeal, prime location and sustainability focus. Investors will also note the use of the Flemish government's GRO sustainability meter, and the pursuit of BREEAM Excellent certification—key indicators of future-proof value.
Meir’s weekly footfall of over 200,000 people, combined with Belgium’s still-affordable high street rents (according to CBRE), places this project at the sweet spot of value and visibility. Beyond retail, its multi-use design integrating education, lifestyle and commerce creates long-term resilience against market cycles—an attractive feature for institutional investors and developers seeking stable urban returns.
“With this hybrid inner-city development, we are blending living, working, shopping and studying in one of the country's prime locations,” added Nicolas Beaussillon, reiterating the project’s mission to revitalise Antwerp’s iconic shopping street.
People mentioned:
Nicolas Beaussillon, CEO, Tans Urban Landmarks
Herman Vluymans, CEO, Urbicoon
Companies mentioned:
Tans Urban Landmarks – Belgian property developer
Urbicoon – Belgian property developer
Inditex – Global fashion group, tenant (Zara)
CBRE – Real estate advisor
KdG Hogeschool – Educational partner
Proximus – Former building occupant
