In its vision text “Against the Stream”, SP.A-Brussels indicates that half of all the capital’s inhabitants live less than two kilometres from its canal. But, it says, Brussels doesn’t feel like a city by the water. Pascal Smet, Flemish minister for Brussels and the previous Brussels minister for public works, feels the current government lacks a coherent approach: “The Brussels authorities need to make a clear choice to move industrial enterprises, such as scrap recycling companies, from the centre to the far ends of the canal region.”
Smet’s party SP.A wants to replace the industrial landscape with parks, promenades and an open-air swimming pool (pictured). Enterprises on the banks should fit into the city scene and have more creative and ecological activities. During his term as public works minister, Smet planned a park at the location of the Ninoofsepoort and at Tour & Taxis. Work at the Ninoofsepoort should start in 2013, while permits for the zone at Tour & Taxis are being negotiated. With play areas for children and the prospect of being able to stroll, jog and cycle along the water, Smet hopes to attract people to live there. For this purpose, new housing should be built, from luxury apartments to social residences.
But Brigitte Grouwels (CD&V), the current Brussels minister for public works and the port, has no intention of forcing the industry on the banks of the canal to move. “These enterprises are important economic centres in Brussels and need to feel supported by the city government,” she says. “I won’t give up the economic value of the inland port of Brussels. The supply and removal of materials via transport along the canal saves a lot of lorries on the already congested roads.”
Grouwels admits, though, that companies have to be aware that they are close to the city centre. “They need to put more effort into improving the environment by installing proper fences and keeping their sites tidy.”
Brussels’ city architect, Olivier Bastin, agrees that the strategy of the SP.A to largely reconstruct the canal district is out of date: “Instead of starting over, it is better to adapt the industrial environment so that it blends into the city scene.”
Grouwels refers to urban planning studies currently being drawn up, which will result in a master plan that marks out different zones for industry and recreation. There are schemes for more parks and also for bridges. The bicycle route along the water is being improved, and there are contacts with the hotel and catering sector. To integrate the port into the tourism strategy, Grouwels is preparing to set up a passenger terminal in the outer harbour for cruise ships that visit Brussels.
To clean up industrial sites along the canal and develop them into economic territory compatible with the landscape of a capital, Brussels is supporting the regeneration of the land by companies with a sustainability strategy. The organisation Brussels Greenfields subsidises from 50 to 75% of the regeneration costs, up to €1.5 million.
Recent sponsored enterprises include Greenbizz, a development centre for green businesses, and Kanaal-Zuid, a project to install allotments that can be hired for growing fruit and vegetables. “Because the regeneration costs could deter companies, we provide financial assistance at the beginning of their set-up,” explains Alexandre Van Caloen, coordinator of Brussels Greenfields.
Abatan, the abattoir and markets of Anderlecht, receives about €800,000 from Brussels Greenfields. This is half the costs for the regeneration of the spot where a new market hall should stand in 2014. Brussels- Capital Region and the European Regional Development Fund carry €6 million of the total building cost of €15 million. In the covered market hall of 12,000 hectares, 50 food businesses will create jobs for local people.
Homes are also included on the new site. Joris Tiebout, CEO of Abatan, envisions a multicultural food market for and by people of all origins, inspired by the famous Boquería market in Barcelona. In March, Abatan is holding a photo expo with portraits of the multicultural traders at the current market. “We hope to take away the fear about these areas and replace it with a curiosity for their diversity, in food and in people,” says Tiebout.
The Abatan initiative is right up the alley of Platform Kanal, the citizen-run platform that strives to bring communities on each side of the canal closer together. Platform Kanal hopes to spark a debate with workshops, info sessions and artistic projects. Their biggest event is the biennial Festival Kanal arts festival. The second edition this autumn is sponsored in part by the government of Flanders for €85,000 and will receive a still-undefined sum from the Brussels-Capital Region.
Musical and dance performances, a photo exhibition and literary discourses will take place in the open air along the canal. An important goal is the empowerment of the inhabitants of perceived “problem quarters” including Sint- Jans-Molenbeek and Anderlecht. “You cannot deny the poverty and unemployment culture,” says festival coordinator Wim Embrechts, “but to change this attitude you have to stimulate self-appreciation and make things happen. We want to transform them into must-go zones instead of no-go zones.”
A multicultural version of food festival Brusselicious is also on the programme: the gastronomic celebration Delicious Kanal, which will include workshops about how to cook traditional meals from various cultures.
To connect the two banks of the canal, Dirk Geets, artistic director of packaging company D&P Creative Team and an inhabitant of the canal region for almost 30 years, came up with a design for a new Museum of Modern Art between Molenbeek and the centre of Brussels. He answered a call by the SP.A to post ideas for the future of the canal zone on the open internet forum MyCanal.
“The museum would serve a better purpose there than in an already popular tourist area,” explains Geets, who wants to spark a debate rather than make a definite proposal. Public works minister Grouwels appreciates the creative suggestion but doesn’t consider it a realistic undertaking. To close the gap between the centre and Molenbeek, she instead plans an attractive pedestrian bridge.
www.mycanal.be
Your opinion matters!
Did you already fill out our satisfaction survey?
Flanders Today is a 
9°C / 12°C
