Zemunski Kej

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Zemunski Kej

Земунски Кеј
Zemunski Kej
Zemunski Kej
Etymology: Zemun Quay
Zemunski Kej is located in Belgrade
Zemunski Kej
Zemunski Kej
Location within Belgrade
Coordinates: 44°50′36″N 20°25′02″E﻿ / ﻿44.84333°N 20.41722°E﻿ / 44.84333; 20.41722Coordinates: 44°50′36″N 20°25′02″E﻿ / ﻿44.84333°N 20.41722°E﻿ / 44.84333; 20.41722
Country Serbia
Local communityZemunski Kej
 • Total12,112
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Area code+381(0)11
Car platesBG

Zemunski Kej ((Serbian Cyrillic: Земунски Кеј) is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Zemun.


Zemunski Kej, as its name suggests (Zemun's quay), is located alongside the right bank of the Danube. The promenade itself (officially named Kej Oslobođenja, Quay of Liberation) begins below the Gardoš hill, at the square of Veliki Trg and after 2.5 km (1.6 mi) continues into the municipality of New Belgrade. On the west it borders the neighborhoods of Donji Grad and Retenzija and on the south the neighborhood of Ušće in New Belgrade. To the east, in the Danube, is the Great War Island and its beach Lido.[1][2]



Modern area of Zemun's Donji Grad was regularly flooded by the Danube. After massive 1876 floods, local authorities began the construction of the stony levee along the Danube's bank. Levee, a kilometer long, was finished in 1889.[3] When hydroelectrical plant Đerdap I began to fill its reservoir in the late 1960s, due to the backwater of the Danube, underground waters in Zemun and New Belegrade got elevated and the cellars of the buildings got flooded. To prevent this, the high embankment with the promenade was built in 1967 so the Danube rarely flooded the quay (most notably in 1981).[4]

In September 2007 reconstruction of the quay’s 350 m (1,150 ft) long section began including further elevation of the embankment, widening of the pedestrian path and construction another one on separate level, completion of the cycling path, etc. Works, which were the first works on any embankments in Belgrade since 1990, were finished in 2008.[5][6] Works continued in 2010–2011. After being elevated by one meter in 1967 to the point 70.5 m (231 ft), embankment was further raised to 73.5 m (241 ft) in 2010 and 77 m (253 ft) in 2011, thus preventing any further floodings as the recorded water level was never higher than that. Over 450 m (1,480 ft) of the embankment was first solidified with 17,000 m3 of different materials, then consolidated with beams and further elevated with 20,000 m3 of sand, gravel and stone.[7]


In the early 1970s, architect Branislav Jovin designed the plateau and the quay in front of the Hotel Jugoslavija. Generally considered beautiful and elegant, the project allows the cascade descent from the hotel to the Danube's bank. Early 1990s saw the expansion of the splavovi (singular, splav), barge-clubs on the rivers. They originated along the banks of the Sava and expanded in the nearby Ušće neighborhood. After 1996, they spread along the quay in front of the hotel.[8][9]

The location was favorable as it was one of the rare point at the time, where there was enough parking space and the quay was arranged and concreted, while many other parts of the banks were the barges were located were still muddy and inaccessible. In the 1996–2000 period, the splavovi were swiftly anchored in front of the hotel and in such numbers, that they became so close to each other that guests from one splav were able to talk to the guests from another one. In this period, barges at Hotel Jugoslavija became one of the most popular hangouts, as the barges became one of the focal points of the vibrant Belgrade's nightlife, but were also connected with criminals and numerous incidents.[9] The entire section of the bank in front of the hotel has since then been colloquially known as "Chez Juga" (Kod Juge), after the shortened name of the hotel.

Majority of the barges placed in the last part of the 1990s are still operational, even under the same names, but are being replaced with much larger and modernized versions, unlike the other locations where splavovi appeared and disappeared, or changed names.[9]


Zemunski Kej during the 2006 European floods

The residential areas include blocks 9-a and 11-c, while the mainly non-residential section includes blocks 9 and 11.[2] Lots of area in the neighborhood are pedestrian paths or green areas used for recreation (including a large seasonal amusement park) and commercial facilities. One of the largest hotels in Belgrade, "Hotel Jugoslavija" is located in the neighborhood, but it has been closed since the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999 when it was badly damaged. It was opened partially in 2007 as the largest casino in Belgrade.

The key is also location of several old and famous kafanas in Zemun, like Venecija, Stara Kapetanija, Šaran, etc.

For the most part, the promenade is parallel to the street opened for traffic. Near the beginning of the promenade is one of major roundabouts in Zemun, with terminal bus stops for many public transportation bus lines (82, 85, 610, 611, 705). The promenade continues around Ušće and makes one continuous pedestrian path next to the neighborhoods of Staro Sajmište and Savski Nasip, alongside the left bank of the Sava.[1][2]

As the bank (and thus the quay, too) follows the line of the nearby Great War Island, it is the beginning point of the pontoon bridge which seasonally connects the Lido beach on the island with the mainland.[10][11]

Zemunski Kej is the main Zemun's landing area for numerous boats. In April 2018 it was announced that the pier for the touristic ships and cruisers will be built on the quay. It will be constructed near the Old Port Authorty (Stara Kapetanija) where the old Zemun port was located. Designed to accept ships up to 120 m (390 ft) long and 15 m (49 ft) wide, the project should be finished by the 2019 nautical season.[12] It will be the second international touristic pier in Belgrade, after the one in Savamala neighborhood, on the Sava river. A steel pontoon, 50 m (160 ft) long and 4 m (13 ft) wide, will serve for the boarding and disembarkation of the visitors.[13]


Map of Urban local communities in Zemun municipality

A monument dedicated to 11 pilots of the Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force, killed in action during the Axis attack on Yugoslavia in 1941, was built in 1994. It was sculptured by Miodrag Živković.[14]

There is a memorial commemorating the original Zemun railway station. The station was locatged close to the modern Hotel Jugoslavija. It was built in 1883, during the rule of Austria-Hungary, when the railway, which connected Zemun to Novi Sad, was finished. In 1884 the railway was extended across the Sava into the Kingdom of Serbia as the first railway in the country. The station was operational until 1970. Architect Milun Stambolić designed a memorial complex which consists of 5 pillars, which used to hold the station's overhang, and several meters of railroad tracks. The complex is placed on the plateau next to the hotel, on the small elevation above the promenade along the Danube.[15]

On 22 July 2019, a monument to the medieval Hungarian knight John Hunyadi (Serbian Cyrillic: Сибињанин Јанко, Sibinjanin Janko), was dedicated on the promenade. Hunyadi defended Belgrade against the Ottoman Turks during the 1456 Siege of Belgrade. Presidents of both Serbia and Hungary, Aleksandar Vučić and János Áder, attended the dedication.[16] Immediately, the monument became the subject of ridicule. Hunyadi was described as being placed in the shower stall. The statue holding a sword, work of Hungarian sculptor István Madarasi, was unfavorably compared to the existing monuments to Hunyadi in Budapest and Romania. Described as looking like a cartoon or a comic book character, it became a hit on social media, where people "guessed" who is actually represented by the statue: actors Zoran Radmilović (in his iconic Ubu Roi role) and Ljuba Moljac [sr], theatrical director Ljubiša Ristić [sr], DJ and radio host Marko Janković (radio host) [sr], cartoon, animated or literature characters Asterix, Sir Giles, Don Quixote and Tin Woodman, Joan of Arc with mustache, Kinder Surprise toy, etc.[17][18][19][20][21] A week after the unveiling, on the night of 30 to 31 July, the statue’s sword, which is not attached to the statue, was stolen but police aprehended the culprtis on the same day.[22][23] They were three art students, claiming they removed the sword in protest.[24][25]


Zemunski Kej made a local community (mesna zajednica, municipal sub-administrative division) within the municipality of Zemun. It split from the local community of Donji Grad before the 1991 census, when it had a population of 3,927.[26] In the next census, in 2002, it had 3,649 inhabitants.[27] Local communities in the urban core of Zemun were later abolished.

Including local communities which are adjacent to the entire promenade (Dunav and Jugoslavija), the entire neighborhood had a total population of 13,385 in 1991 and 12,112 in 2002.[26][27]


  1. ^ a b Tamara Marinković-Radošević (2007). Beograd - plan i vodič. Belgrade: Geokarta. ISBN 86-459-0006-8.
  2. ^ a b c Beograd - plan grada. Smedrevska Palanka: M@gic M@p. 2006. ISBN 86-83501-53-1.
  3. ^ Miloje Jovanović Miki (2 December 2010). "Brdo Gardoš nije brdo" (in Serbian). Politika. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016.
  4. ^ I.Ješić (8 April 2009). "Podzemne vode više ne prete Paviljonima" (in Serbian). Politika.
  5. ^ Politika, 27 September 27 2007, p.26
  6. ^ "Sanacija obaloutvrda sa pristanom na delu Zemunskog keja" (in Serbian). Građevinarstvo.rs. 30 July 2010.
  7. ^ V.V., "Zemun se štiti od stogodišnjih voda", Politika (in Serbian)
  8. ^ Katarina Đorđević (5 November 2017), "Pola veka beogradskih diskoteka" [Half a century of Belgrade disco clubs], Politika (in Serbian), p. 9
  9. ^ a b c Bane Gajić (21 December 2018). "Kako su splavovi postali važan deo Beograda" [How splavovi became important part of Belgrade]. Vice (in Serbian).
  10. ^ D.Mojić (3 July 2008), "Počelo leto na Lidu" [Summer at Lido began], Glas javnosti (in Serbian)
  11. ^ N.M. (1 July 2008), "Sezona na Lidu od sutra" [Season on Lido starts tomorrow], Politika (in Serbian), p. 24
  12. ^ Beta agency (24 April 2018). "Turistički kruzeri od sledeće sezone pristaju u Zemun" [Touristic cruisers will stop at Zemun from the next season]. Večernje Novosti (in Serbian).
  13. ^ Ana Vuković (26 April 2018). "Крузери ће пристајати у Земуну" [Cruisers will stop in Zemun]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 15.
  14. ^ Branka Vasiljević (15 March 2019). "Spomenik pilotima obnoviće opština Zemun" [Monument to pilots will be restored by the Zemun municipality]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 14.
  15. ^ Zoran Nikolić (2 November 2017), "Beogradske priče: Čudne gradske "granične linije"" [Belgrade stories: Strange city "border lines"], Večernje Novosti (in Serbian)
  16. ^ FoNet (22 July 2019). "Otkriven spomenik Sibinjaninu Janku, Vučić i Ader o vojskovođi i odnosima" [Monument to Sibinjanin Janko dedicated, Vučić and Áder discussed the military leader and [Serbian-Hungarian] relations] (in Serbian). N1.
  17. ^ Milan Janković (29 July 2019). Од један до пет – Сибињанин Јанко [1 to 5 – Sibinjanin Janko]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 14.
  18. ^ M.Beljan (23 July 2019). "Kako je zaista izgledao Sibinjanin Janko i da li je ovo Asteriks? Sukob oko novog spomenika" [How did Sibinjanin Janko really look like and is this Asterix? Confrontation regarding new monument]. Telegraf.rs (in Serbian).
  19. ^ {{cite tweet | author = Ivan Živkov | user = izivkov | number = 1153394557729607682 | date = 22 July 2019 | language = Serbian | title = Hunjadi Janoš u Budimpešti i Sibinjanin Janko u Beogradu | trans-title = Hunyadi Janos in Budapest and Sibinjanin Janko in Belgrade | link = https://twitter.com/izivkov/status/1153394557729607682
  20. ^ {{cite tweet | author = Veljko Pajović | user = veljkoveseljko | number = 1153623453989314560 | date = 23 July 2019 | language = Serbian | title = Sibinjanin Janko. Tanko, tanko… | link = https://twitter.com/veljkoveseljko/status/1153623453989314560
  21. ^ {{cite tweet | author = Antonela Riha | user = RihaAntonela | number = 1153355561888624640 | date = 22 July 2019 | language = Serbian | title = Ovo vam je Sibinjanin Janko… | trans-title = This is Sibinjanin Janko for you… | link = https://twitter.com/RihaAntonela/status/1153355561888624640
  22. ^ Branka Vasiljević (1 August 2019). У Земуну украден мач Сибињанин Јанка [Sword of Sibinjanin Janko stolen in Zemun]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 1 & 14.
  23. ^ Srna (31 July 2019). "Ukraden mač sa tek postavljenog spomenika Sibinjanin Janku u Zemunu" [Sword stolen from the recently placed monument to Sibinjanin Janko in Zemun] (in Serbian). N1.
  24. ^ FoNet (1 August 2019). "Studenti Likovne akademije ukrali mač Sibinjanin Janka iz "stručnih razloga"" [Artistic Academy students stole the sword because of “expert reasons”]. N1 (in Serbian).
  25. ^ Milan Janković (5 August 2019). Од један до пет – Јанков мач [1 to 5 – Janko’s sword]. Politika (in Serbian).
  26. ^ a b Stanovništvo prema migracionim obeležjima – SFRJ, SR i SAP, opštine i mesne zajednice 31.03.1991, tabela 018. Savezni zavod za statistiku (txt file).
  27. ^ a b Popis stanovništva po mesnim zajednicama, Saopštenje 40/2002, page 4. Zavod za informatiku i statistiku grada Beograda. 26 July 2002.