The Ušće Aquarium
This story follows the public aquarium project in Belgrade's Ušće park: permits, budget, contractors, impact on green space, and reactions from residents and activists. The project matters as an example of urban construction where state decisions directly reshape public space in New Belgrade.
What matters
A permit for preparatory works for the aquarium in Ušće park was issued on June 8, 2026; the decision could be appealed within eight days of publication.
Chronology
More than 70 groups seek an environmental assessment for the Usce aquarium
More than 70 civil-society organisations said the city Environmental Protection Secretariat's decision not to conduct an impact assessment for the Belgrade aquarium in Friendship Park is against the public interest. They seek to annul it on appeal and conduct the assessment.
Usce: roundabout blocked
After the roundabout blockade, the march headed to Hotel Jugoslavija; an appeal over preparatory works has already been filed.
Usce: July 5 protest
N1 reports that near the future aquarium construction site in Usce park, next to the former Hotel Jugoslavija site, a large amount of soil, a stream of water coming from the ground, a fenced hole, pipes, and a generator are visible, but no workers were on site. Igor Andjelic from Zbor Batajnica said activists will try to compare the tree map and check reports that two trees were removed; residents are being invited to a "Save Usce" protest at 18:00 on July 5 outside the Usce shopping center.
Usce: Belgrade aquarium gets a preparatory works permit
Forbes/N1 reported on June 12 that the Finance Ministry received a permit for preparatory works for the public aquarium in Usce park: the decision was issued on June 8, can be appealed within eight days, and the works should last about one month once the permit becomes final. For residents, this is a new practical stage of a contested project on green space: the preparation includes fencing, clearing, protection and transplanting of existing saplings, ground stabilization, and traffic management around the plot.
Fresh materials on this topic
More than 70 groups seek an environmental assessment for the Usce aquarium
More than 70 civil-society organisations said the city Environmental Protection Secretariat's decision not to conduct an impact assessment for the Belgrade aquarium in Friendship Park is against the public interest. They seek to annul it on appeal and conduct the assessment.
Because of the aquarium, the roundabout by the mall at Usce was blocked
After the roundabout blockade, the march headed to Hotel Jugoslavija; an appeal over preparatory works has already been filed.
Water and soil spotted by the Usce aquarium site; residents call a July 5 protest
N1 reports that near the future aquarium construction site in Usce park, next to the former Hotel Jugoslavija site, a large amount of soil, a stream of water coming from the ground, a fenced hole, pipes, and a generator are visible, but no workers were on site. Igor Andjelic from Zbor Batajnica said activists will try to compare the tree map and check reports that two trees were removed; residents are being invited to a "Save Usce" protest at 18:00 on July 5 outside the Usce shopping center.
Usce: Belgrade aquarium gets a preparatory works permit
Forbes/N1 reported on June 12 that the Finance Ministry received a permit for preparatory works for the public aquarium in Usce park: the decision was issued on June 8, can be appealed within eight days, and the works should last about one month once the permit becomes final. For residents, this is a new practical stage of a contested project on green space: the preparation includes fencing, clearing, protection and transplanting of existing saplings, ground stabilization, and traffic management around the plot.
What changed
- A permit for preparatory works for the aquarium in Ušće park was issued on June 8, 2026; the decision could be appealed within eight days of publication.
- On July 2, N1 reported that near the future construction site by the former Hotel Jugoslavija, a large amount of soil, water spurting from the ground, a fenced hole, pipes, and a generator were visible; no workers were on site.
- On the evening of July 5, the Zemun and New Belgrade assemblies blocked the roundabout by the Ušće shopping center and marched along Bulevar Nikole Tesle toward Hotel Jugoslavija; at the same time, an appeal against preparatory works was filed and Zbor Zemun announced a planned lawsuit against the Secretariat for Urbanism.