After decades of industrial activity and years of abandonment, the Dudelange steelworks site is now set to become a vibrant new neighbourhood, with a mix of housing, businesses, and preserved heritage buildings.
From 1882 to 2005, the Reunited Steelworks of Burbach-Eich-Dudelange (ARBED) operated the iron and steel works in Dudelange before it was taken over by ArcelorMittal. The site, which once provided employment to thousands, saw its workforce reduced to a few hundred by the time operations ceased.
The demolition of the blast furnaces and the closure of the rolling mill in 1984 marked the beginning of the end for the Dudelange plant.
The site has remained abandoned for the past 20 years. In 2016, the Luxembourg state purchased the plot, and the Housing Fund was tasked with redeveloping it into a new residential neighbourhood. The planned development, called "Nei Schmelz," will include flats, small businesses, schools, crèches, and green spaces.
The new neighbourhood is set to accommodate up to 3,500 residents in nearly 1,600 housing units. Several historical buildings will be preserved, while others will be repurposed. According to Dudelange Mayor Dan Biancalana, 85% of the site's heritage structures will be retained.
One notable example is the 600-metre-long former rolling mill. While the roof and side walls will be removed, the metal framework, protected by a preservation order, will be maintained. Jacques Vandivinit, director of the Housing Fund, stated that much of the space will be used by the National Centre for Public Collections (CNCP), a project led by the Ministry of Culture. Additional facilities such as a skate park, youth centre, and crèches are also planned.
The first phase of construction on the 40-hectare site started a few months ago. According to Vandivinit, approximately 600,000 cubic metres of soil will be shifted, with most of it being reused in the new buildings rather than sent to a landfill.
The first 110 housing units are expected to be completed by 2028, with the entire project estimated to be finished by 2042 at the earliest.
