Right through Molenbeek

What is now a densely built-up and lively urban district once began as a modest municipality on the outskirts of Brussels. When Belgium was founded, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek underwent a rapid transformation thanks to its strategic location along the canal and close to Tour & Taxis. Industry, trade, and workers' housing grew here at an unprecedented pace, making Laag-Molenbeek one of the economic engines of the capital. The high demand for labor attracted migrants, first from other Belgian regions and later from abroad, who found a place to live and work here.

Decline and rebirth

In Molenbeek, known as Little Manchester, cigarettes rolled off the production line, textiles were woven, beer was brewed, and bronze was cast, finding its way to New York and other global cities. But after the world wars, the municipality gradually lost its economic clout. Factories closed their doors, jobs disappeared, and former prosperity gave way to vulnerability. The neighborhood was confronted with outdated buildings and a changing population, but its industrial past remained visible in the urban structure. Warehouses, wide avenues, and compact residential blocks still tell the story of growth and decline.

It was precisely during this period of decline that a strong resilience emerged. Residents, local entrepreneurs, and associations gave and continue to give Laag-Molenbeek a new lease on life. Old industrial sites are being reused, social and cultural initiatives are flourishing, and the neighborhood continues to reinvent itself. This walk shows Molenbeek not as a problem neighborhood, but as a place where history, creativity, and urban renewal are in constant dialogue with each other.