Belgium inaugurated its second detention house in the district of Forest in Brussels on Friday.
The ceremony was graced by Vincent Van Quickenborne, Minister of Justice, and Secretary of State Mathieu Michel, who is in charge of overseeing an agency for public infrastructure.
The renovated Berkendael women’s prison will house 57 “residents,” with four already in place. The first such facility opened in Courtrai in September 2022.
Innovating justice: Small-scale prisons
Detention houses represent a shift from large-scale prisons, accommodating inmates serving short-term sentences in more intimate groups of up to 60.
According to the Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice, these smaller units offer inmates more intensive and personalised support.
Between February and June 2023, the former women’s prison underwent a refurbishment costing around 700,000 euros, with bars removed, cell doors adjusted, and floors renovated among other improvements.
This innovative facility houses a reception area, a family visitation room, and a gym. Its residents enjoy significant freedom to move around communal spaces, with access to mobile phones and personal lockers, and may receive up to three visits per week.
