The iconic market normally held on Place du Châtelain every Wednesday was moved as far as Place Flagey during renovation works, however, this move was unsuccessful for business. Now, the vendors will return closer to home base.
Since October 2023, the Place du Châtelain in Ixelles has been undergoing reconstruction, which meant the popular Wednesday market that has made the square its home for years had to temporarily relocate.
"I carried out a survey among the vendors to see where they wanted to be while works were ongoing," Audrey Lhoest (Ecolo-Groen), first Councillor at the Ixelles commune, told The Brussels Times. They wanted to remain within a one-kilometre radius of their original location, remain outdoors, and they wanted to stay together as a group.
Châtelain market. Credit: Liv Klingert
"Based on these criteria we decided that it would not be possible to relocate the market, and spread out into neighbouring streets, and therefore suggested they move to Place Flagey," explained Lhoest. This location was considered a suitable alternative as the weekend market here is always a success and many people can pass through.
However, vendors soon saw their turnover plummet. "The Wednesday market, to our surprise, did not do well here at all. We thought it may just take a while for word to spread," Lhoest noted, "but the same success as seen during the weekends did not arrive."
Therefore, the commune and vendors went back to the drawing board. Vendors said they were willing to make concessions to be closer to the square. A plan has now been worked out for them to return to the square's adjacent streets, specifically on Rue de l'Aqueduc and Rue du Mail.
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"This plan was presented to the neighbourhood council and, while some opposed the idea, the majority supported it. Shopkeepers in these streets admitted that it was not an ideal situation, but were largely in solidarity with the stallholders," said Lhoest.
Certain issues are still being smoothed out. For instance, it is not yet clear what will happen to residents' parking spaces when the market is on, from 10:30 until 21:00 on Wednesdays. Traffic diversions will also need to be put in place. "But we hoped to get the move sorted in the next few weeks." Meanwhile, the works on the square will last until mid-November.
