Activist group Free54 will once again protest on Brussels' Place Sainte-Catherine on Friday to denounce the lack of public space in the city.
The organisers have called on people to "chill, talk, dance, play football and have a drink" on the square in the Dansaert neighbourhood on Friday evening from 18:00, to oppose the increasing commercialisation of public space in Brussels.
"Seven years ago, Place Sainte-Catherine in Brussels was a lively place that attracted people of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of socio-economic status," said spokesperson for Free54 Niels Coppens.
"Today, it is a square that mainly attracts tourists and consumers. Now, only they can enjoy the medieval charm of our city," he added, referring to the fact that the square has become increasingly dominated by restaurants, bars and their enlarged terraces which occupy most of the square.
The activists are therefore calling on all city residents to "reclaim the streets, street corners and squares in Brussels for public use."
Economy over people
In 2015, former Brussels Councillor for Economy and Employment Marion Lemesre decided to allow restaurants on the square to expand their terraces, subsidised by the City of Brussels.
"Lemesre pushed through the policy promising to boost the local economy, but terraces have since continued to grow. Public benches were removed and police forces stigmatised the youth by carrying out regular checks in the square," the organisation said.
Coppens added that the city centre's commercialisation has also led to further gentrification of the area. "We have unwittingly contributed to our own exclusion and the rising prices that some of us are struggling to afford."
Previous action from the group brought together record numbers of over 1,500 supporters last year. Credit: Free54
The group also denounced the disappearance of public benches from the square, as well as local restaurants being replaced by chains such as Ellis Gourmet Burger and Bavet.
"These restaurants with an aggressive business plan are competing with the local economy to their death. Blind faith in the tourist economy has overwhelmed the public use of the square," the group concluded. The movement wants the city authorities to rethink and question their approach to the use of public space.
