New home for VRT?
An announcement that the Flemish public broadcaster VRT is considering a move out of Brussels to Vilvoorde or Mechelen caused one prominent Brussels politician to be “disconcerted”. As it turned out, the announcement, from Mechelen mayor Bart Somers, was somewhat premature.
The VRT is currently housed in purpose-built premises in the Brussels commune of Schaarbeek, which it shares with its Frenchspeaking counterpart RTBF. The buildings on Reyerslaan, however, are in a sorry state, and the VRT confirmed that it is considering a number of options for the future. “We will decide in June,” CEO Sandra De Preter said.
Mechelen and Vilvoorde have already begun lobbying, though the VRT has not called for proposals. If re-housing is an option, it is one of several, which also include renovation of the existing buildings or building a whole new complex on adjoining land.
Mechelen, meanwhile, is looking for occupants for a massive piece of land near its main train station and offers the advantages of cheaper land prices than Brussels, as well as a location in Flanders. Vilvoorde has the advantage of an existing media nexus of companies, including VTM, 2BE and Vitaya, independent production house Woestijnvis and media service supplier Videohouse.
Both Flemish minister for Brussels Pascal Smet and Flemish media minister Ingrid Lieten have expressed their personal preference for the VRT to remain in Brussels, which is home to the Flemish as well as federal governments. Bruno De Lille, culture minister for Brussels, spoke for many when he said: “If Flanders wants to withdraw its most important institutions out of Brussels, how long will Brussels remain as capital of Flanders?”
