During his visit to Belgium this week, Pope Francis will be spending time in the capital. Police and public transport operators have warned traffic disruption is expected due to strict security measures.
The Pope will be in Belgium from 26 to 29 September for the 600th anniversary of the Catholic universities KU Leuven and UC Louvain. As well as spending time in the Flemish city of Leuven and Walloon city of Louvain-la-Neuve, several highlights of his trip are taking place in Brussels.
As reported last week, special security measures will be taken to protect the safety of His Holiness and the thousands of people expected to travel to the capital to catch a glimpse of him. Various police zones have warned that people should expect delays, avoid travelling by car to the visit locations and instead take public transport. Parking in some streets will also be prohibited.
Disruptions per location
The Pope will be staying overnight in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre's nunciature – dubbed the 'Vatican embassy' – during his visit. Here, a double perimeter will be in place, with the first largely covering the Franciscan forecourt and the streets around the nunciature. The second, more restrictive perimeter covers Avenue des Franciscains, which will be closed to traffic from 16:00 on Thursday until 09:00 on Sunday.
"During this period, only residents of the avenue and people who received permission will be allowed to enter the security zone," the Montgomery police zone said.
The Pope will make his first public appearance in Brussels at the Basilique of Koekelberg on Saturday 28 September, where he is expected to meet with bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and pastoral workers. A mobility plan will be put in place around the area (both in Koekelberg and Ganshoren) from 22:00 on Friday 27 September until 14:00 on Saturday 28 September.
"Within this area, specific security measures will be taken for the safety of everyone," the commune of Koekelberg noted. "Some streets will be closed to traffic and parking but diversions will be provided."
The public will be able to see the Pope entering the building between 09:45 and 10:00, but prior registration was needed for this. "Access to the Basilique and its immediate surroundings is prohibited on the day of the event. Access will only be allowed to people who have registered in advance."
Credit: Koekelberg
The zone will be divided into various areas, colour-coded based on access. The red area is only accessible on foot to residents, and cars are banned. In the orange zone, all cars are banned but pedestrians can enter. The yellow area is reserved for local traffic.
The Brussels inner ring road, from the Porte de Hal tunnel to the Annie Cordy tunnel, will be closed to traffic in the direction of Koekelberg from 09:15, followed by a closure in the opposite direction, as well as from Rue Belliard at around 11:00.
The security perimeter will also disrupt STIB's tram 9 route between Simonis and Schweitzer, while trams from Groot-Bijgaarden will be diverted from Schweitzer to West Station, the public transport operator said. Bus 13 will be diverted between Simonis and Eeuwfeestsquare, bus 87 will be diverted between Simonis and Neuberger and the Noctis bus line N16 will be diverted between Simonis and Goffin.
Flemish public transport operator De Lijn confirmed that between 09:30 on Friday and 16:00 on Saturday, line R14 (Brussels North - Asse - Affligem) and line R15 (Brussels North - Ternat - Liedekerke - Denderleeuw) will be diverted.
Sunday's Eucharistic celebration in Brussels' King Baudouin Stadium is the highlight of the papal visit and will involve stricter measures, as some 35,000 people are expected to attend. The stadium will open from 06:00, and everyone must be in their allocated seat by 08:30 at the latest. A passport or identity card will be needed to enter, and people without tickets will not be granted access.
"A security perimeter will be established in and around the King Baudouin Stadium and the Heysel plateau," police said. A large area around the stadium will only be accessible to local traffic, and parking will be prohibited from 28 September to 29 September inclusive. Dangerous objects, backpacks, flags and drones are banned from this zone.
"We advise you not to come to the Heysel by car," the City of Brussels/Ixelles police zone said. "If you do come to Brussels by car, park at a distance and come to the Heysel by bicycle or public transport."
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STIB will increase the frequency of metro line 6, while metro line 2 will be extended from Simonis to also stop at King Baudouin. The frequency of tram line 7 (Vanderkindere - Heysel) will also be increased. Some entrances to metro stations close to the stadium (Roi Baudouin, Heysel, Houba-Brugmann) will remain closed from dawn onwards, while the Roi Baudouin metro station will be completely closed from 12:00 to 14:30.
STIB's tram line 9 will be restricted to the stadium stop and bus line 83 will be diverted between Tircher and Esplanade, both until 14:00 on Sunday. Between 14:00 and 16:00, De Lijn's lines R40 (Brussels North - Bockstael - Wemmel), R41 (Brussels North - Bockstael - Wemmel Drijpikkel), R50 (Brussels North - Meise - Londerzeel) and R60 (Brussels North - Meise - Willebroek) will be diverted. "Several stops will not be served and replacement stops will be set up," STIB said.
