The Brussels-Capital Region Government has taken steps to class the Au Laboureur café as a protected monument of the city
The move forms part of a broader effort to preserve the characteristic interiors of regional Brussels breweries, these establishments are increasingly disappearing.
Au Laboureur café, situated where Rue de Flandre and Rue Léon Lepage meet in the heart of the capital, was deemed in an "exceptional" state of conservation.
Nearly 100 years old, this establishment holds historical, aesthetic, social and folkloric importance, highlighted by Ans Persoons (Vooruit), the state secretary in charge of Heritage.
The location has more than just charm, it has roots dating back to the Middle Ages when Rue de Flandre connected Brussels and Ghent. Within the city, the road served both for transport from east to west, and as a commercial hub hosting various businesses.
The building housing Au Laboureur café is a modest Art Deco style corner property, featuring five levels, a side hall and two wings under a gabled roof. The ground floor of the property, which is allocated for hospitality, includes an entrance in the central hall.
Constructed in 1927, the building became a key part of the café scene from its inception, originally under the name of Brasserie Carlier. Two years later, in 1929, the café adopted its current name, Brasserie Au Laboureur.
The expansive interior of the establishment, conceived and executed by the Henri Houbaer General Company, has been largely preserved.
By listing the city's cafés, Brussels regional authorities celebrate the architecture of the interwar period. It’s a fitting example connecting modern times with the region’s enhanced expression of historic culture and folklore.
