After the summer of 2023 – more than 40 years since the scaffolding went up – the restoration works on the Justice Palace in Brussels can finally begin, leading to the long-overdue liberation of the Palais from its steel cocoon, announced State Secretary Mathieu Michel, in charge of the Buildings Agency.
A whole generation of Belgians has only ever known the Brussels Palace of Justice as being imprisoned in its "steel cage" of scaffolding, which has been there since the mid-1980s. But since the start of this legislature, Michel has set his sights on fully freeing the Palace of Justice from its metal entrapment by 2030.
"The Palace of Justice is an emblematic building of our capital and of our country. It is the largest courthouse in the world. This Palace is part of the Brussels skyline. It is a symbol of Justice and therefore of democracy," Michel announced in a press release on Sunday, echoing statements made previously to The Brussels Times.
In the early 2000s, new scaffolding was placed around the main facade of the building as a preventive measure to contain any loosened stones, allowing the main entrance to the Palace of Justice to remain functional and accessible.
A scaffolding-free facade in 2024
"A first step will be taken with the complete renovation of the facade on the side of Place Poelaert in 2024," Michel said. By then, the restored facade without scaffolding will be visible to the general public in all its splendour.
"It is our duty to maintain and preserve it for future generations. The rebirth of the Brussels Palais de Justice should be a strong signal that we respect and value our heritage and our history. But also because of its function and its symbolic value," he added.
Michel stressed that the restoration of the Palace of Justice is progressing and confirmed his ambition to restore the facades and remove all scaffolding by 2030 – when Belgium celebrates its 200 anniversary as an independent nation.
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Restoration work – including the reinforcement of the scaffolding on the main facade – started in March 2021 and has now been completed. Those works were needed to be able to use the scaffolding for the restoration study and the actual restoration work on the facade.
On Thursday 16 February, the specifications for the restoration of the facade on the side of Place Poelaert were published by the Buildings Agency, who is also applying for an environmental permit to the competent authorities.
"This building is one of the symbols of our democracy. It deserves to be finally respected," said Michel.
An interview with State Secretary Mathieu Michel on the latest state of play of the Justice Palace's renovation, also published in the latest edition of The Brussels Times magazine, can be found here.
