Brussels pedestrian zone is about to get smaller

The one-year-old pedestrian zone in the heart of Brussels will be reduced slightly around the Bourse, the city council decided, according to various media. The city council, however, denies that the area is becoming smaller, while Brussels mobility minister Pascal Smet refers to the decision as “the execution of planned developments”.

Europe's largest pedestrian zone stretching from Place de Brouckère to Place Fontainas is about to make way for a new pedestrian perimeter which will extend from Rue Fossé aux Loups to the Bourse.

Both Place de Brouckère and Rue du Midi will reopen to traffic, with two lanes around De Brouckère, one on each side of the square. There will be no parking lot, however, and the city still intends to turn the square into a large accessible area for pedestrians.

The city appears to be responding to criticism from local merchants whose turnover has declined since the introduction of the pedestrian zone.

Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur will today give more information on the decision together with Didier Reynders, minister of Beliris, the federal funding organ for the capital.

photo: harry_nl / Flickr