Ringland (officially ''Ringgenootschap vzw'') is a
non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...
in
Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
,
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
, that is demanding that the authorities install a
roof covering over the entire
ring road around Antwerp.
History
After comparison of different options in the environmental effects report, in the beginning of 2014 the
Flemish Government
The Flemish Government ( ) is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region of Belgium. It consists of a government cabinet, headed by the Minister-President of Flanders, Minister-President and accountable to the Flemish Par ...
chose the
BAM track to complete the ring road, in combination with a tunnel under the
Albert Canal
The Albert Canal (, ; , ) is a canal located in northeastern Belgium, which was named for King Albert I of Belgium. The Albert Canal connects Antwerp with Liège, and also the Meuse river with the Scheldt river. It also connects with the Des ...
. That tunnel was a new element. Ringland came up with more demands and insisted on a roof on the entire Ring. Ringland claims this would lead to less pollution and damage by
(ultra)fine particles, and less noise disturbance, hence enhancing the liveability of the environment.
In June 2015 the Ringland band - consisting of local artists
Styrofoam
Styrofoam is a brand of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), manufactured to provide continuous building insulation board used in walls, roofs, and foundations as thermal insulation and as a water barrier. This material is light blue in ...
,
Marcel Vanthilt
Marcel Céline Gerard Edgard Vanthilt (; born 24 August 1957) is a Belgian singer and television presenter.Heerema, Y.Marcel Vanthilt – Presentator Marcel Vanthilit NCRV-gids 1, 5 till 11 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
Early life
Ma ...
,
Bart Peeters, Slongs Dievanongs, Merdan Taplak, Pieter Embrechts and Halve Neuro - created the
protest song
A protest song is a song that is associated with a movement for protest and social change and hence part of the broader category of ''topical'' songs (or songs connected to current events). It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre.
...
''Laat de Mensen Dansen'' ("Let the People Dance"). The title was not emitted by the main Flemish broadcasting companies
VRT and
Medialaan
DPG Media Group is a Belgian media group. It is active in Belgium and the Netherlands. The exact ownership structure is not clear; it is believed that the group is mainly owned by the Belgian Van Thillo family. because of the political tone.
The Ringland Festival has already taken place twice, both times as a fund raiser for research on the roofing of the ring road. At the first edition on 15 June 2014 15,000 visitors appeared, and 20,000 at the second edition on 27 June 2015. The festival symbolically took place on top of the Craeybeckx Tunnel, which guides the
E19 road under the
Middelheim park and hospital.
Claims
The main reasons the organisation gives for realisation of the project, besides the reduction of pollution and noise, are smoother and safer road traffic and additional space including green areas.
See also
*
Oosterweel Link
References
{{reflist
External links
Official website
Politics of Flanders
Buildings and structures in Antwerp