Four sites across BESIX Group, in very different ways, captured what the day is really about:
BESIX & BESIX Infra: going underground at the Oosterweel canal tunnels in Antwerp
In Antwerp, scale was impossible to ignore. The construction pit for the future Oosterweel canal tunnels, part of the ROCO construction site, welcomed around 9,000 visitors, many of them discovering the project for the first time. Some went as far as 29 metres below ground.
Above and below ground, engineers and site teams guided the public through the site, answering questions, explaining decisions, and translating complexity into something tangible.
For project director Jeroen Philtjens, that visibility matters. “This project is being built over several years by hundreds of people working together,” he said. “What matters most today is being able to show the people behind the work and connect it with the city it serves.”
Delivered by the consortium ROCO, bringing together BESIX, BESIX Infra, Cordeel, DEME, Denys, Jan De Nul, Van Laere and Willemen, in close partnership with Lantis, the project reflects a strong collective effort. On Sunday, that collaboration was on full display!
The visit of Vice Prime Minister Jan Jambon, Flemish minister Annick De Ridder and Antwerp mayor Els van Doesburg further emphasized the project’s importance for the city.
Wust: rediscovering a theatre in transformation in Verviers
In Verviers, Wust opened a very different, more subdued site, but no less engaging. At the Grand Théâtre, a historic site of an ancient theatre, being restored by affiliate Wust with partner Denys, nearly 1,300 visitors came over the course of the week, and more than 600 on Sunday alone. They visited the building in small groups, guided by teams who know every detail of the site.
Here, it is not about scale. It is about precision. Visitors followed the transformation of the theatre up close, understanding how a historic building is carefully brought back to life. The interest was clear: people stayed as long as they could, asked a lot of questions and looked at every detail. The success of the visits reflects a growing interest in heritage projects, where craftsmanship and preservation meet contemporary standards.
Vanhout: engaging the next generation at Constructiv, Brussels
In Brussels, the focus shifted to learning and innovation. At the future headquarters of Constructiv, affiliate Vanhout opened a site that combines renovation with new construction across nine floors. The initiative started ahead of Open Wervendag, with a dedicated school edition on Friday that welcomed around 70 students and their teachers from Brussels. From technical trades to economics, they discovered what sits behind a major project, guided by the team on site.
On Sunday, the site opened to the general public. 110 visitors discovered not only the project itself, but also new ways of experiencing construction, through immersive tools such as virtual reality and simulation. The site was also proud to welcome Frédéric De Gucht, Chairman of political party Anders.
CIRCL: building differently with modular thinking in Brakel
In Brakel, the approach shifted again, this time towards new ways of building. At a local medical practice, developed with CIRCL, visitors discovered a different construction logic altogether. The building is modular, energy-efficient and designed for speed without compromising quality.
There is no spectacle here, no depth to descend into or heritage to restore. Instead, the interest lies in the method: step by step, visitors were guided through how the project comes together, off-site production, assembly on site, and the level of finish that can be achieved through this approach. The result is a modern, welcoming healthcare facility, but also a clear demonstration that construction can be done differently.
A shared sense of pride
Across all sites, one element stood out: the connection between people and projects. Open Sites Day continues to show that construction is not only about delivering buildings and infrastructure. It is about people, expertise and a shared ambition to shape the environments we live in.