Tans Urban Landmarks and Urbicoon sign Inditex as tenant for one of the largest retail spaces on Meir
Belgian property developers lease 14,500 m² of retail space to Spanish fashion group
May 5, 2025
Real estate companies Tans Urban Landmarks and Urbicoon have found a tenant for the commercial space of Meir Corner. Zara, a brand of the world's largest fashion group Inditex, will move into the 14,500 m² retail space located across three levels, making it Zara's largest store worldwide. ‘This is the biggest deal in our history and probably in the entire Belgian sector in a very long time,’ says Nicolas Beaussillon, CEO of Tans Urban Landmarks.
The prestigious Meir Corner project in Antwerp, on the site of the former Proximus building, aims to help restore the iconic shopping street to its former glory. Past and present are intertwined in an architectural and sustainable masterpiece for the future. These two assets were also decisive factors for Spanish retailer Zara in choosing to house its new Antwerp flagship store here, as they had outgrown their current Antwerp location.
"This development has everything an international brand needs to physically welcome its customers today and tomorrow. The highest standards of sustainability, a fabulous location with some 200,000 passers-by on a weekly basis and sophisticated architecture that invites you to enjoy a ‘real’ shopping experience. Because let's not be mistaken, in today’s world the retail industry is opting for both an online and a physical presence. Provided, of course, that the physical retail space can offer customers a genuine experience and has a prime location, which is certainly the case with Meir Corner."
Herman Vluymans, CEO of Urbicoon
Living, working, shopping and studying
The guiding principle for the building's designers and the appointed contractors, but also for the subsequent management of the building, is the Flemish government's new GRO sustainability meter. In addition, the developers of Meir Corner want to obtain ‘BREEAM Excellent’ certification for sustainability for the retail area of the project.
"Tans has been an expert in retail real estate in prime locations for over 30 years. We consistently invest in cities for the long term and with a view to adding value, for the tenant, the neighbourhood and the city. With this hybrid inner-city development, we are blending living, working, shopping and studying in one of the country's prime locations. The upper floors will house a new campus of the KdG Hogeschool, while the souterrain, the ground floor and the first floor will be home to the largest and most sustainable shop on the Meir."
Nicolas Beaussillon, CEO of Tans Urban Landmarks
Most expensive shopping street
According to specialist international real estate consultant CBRE, which advised on the transaction and compares rents on the world's major shopping streets every year, Meir is the most expensive shopping street in the country. However, the same study shows that average prices in Belgium are still relatively low compared to other European (fashion) cities.
On the site of the former Proximus building, on the corner of Meir and Jezusstraat, work is currently in full swing on the sustainable new building. The former RTT building and two other historic façades will be integrated into the contemporary concept with a large inner garden, green walkway and roof gardens. To bring more light and air to the neighbourhood, the original building will also be lowered from 40 to 28 metres, or from 13 to 9 floors. This large-scale project is also being realised in collaboration with KDG Hogeschool, which will house a brand new, state-of-the-art 28,000 m² campus for its Management and IT students.
