Lion City: experience the transformation of an urban district from the front row

Anyone who enters the Lion City site today will find themselves in a place that visibly embodies the past, present, and future. The site, once owned by Delhaize, housed the bottling plant and distilled spirits, among other things, and thus played a major role in the company's development into the supermarket we know today. Strategically located close to the railway line and the canal, the site was part of the industrial network that shaped Molenbeek since the 19th century. Warehouses, logistics buildings, and robust structures bear witness to an architecture that was entirely dedicated to efficiency, production, and distribution.

Temporariness as a strategy

Today, Lion City is temporarily occupied under the leadership of Entrakt, which is opening up the industrial heritage site for cultural, social, and economic initiatives. The former halls have been home to projects such as Volta, Groot Eiland, a parkour hall, a second-hand shop, and a café. The site also houses the Delhaize Museum, which gives visitors an insight into the history of the supermarket chain and its production activities. The current use respects the robust industrial architecture, keeping the past visible while new functions bring the site back to life.

At the same time, Lion City is looking ahead. In the longer term, housing and small-scale industry will be developed here; the permit applications for this transformation are currently being processed. The current phase serves as a transitional period in which the site is being tested as part of urban life. During this visit, you will see how the architecture of the former Delhaize site not only reflects Molenbeek's industrial past, but also provides a framework for future urban development.