Coronavirus measures

The City of Brussels has taken several decisions in order to best respect the measures of the federal government in the fight against the coronavirus (Covid-19). More info: coronavirus measures by the City of Brussels. Please note: at the Administrative Centre & liaison offices, all citizens are asked to come alone, maximum 15 minutes before the appointment time, wear a face mask (obligatory) and disinfect their hands.

 

Coronavirus measures by the City of Brussels

The City of Brussels has taken several decisions in order to best respect the measures of the federal government in the fight against the coronavirus (Covid-19).

The Consultation Committee has taken measures which apply throughout the country. More info:

In addition to the national measures, the following additional measures against the coronavirus apply in the Brussels Capital Region:

  • All shops must respect the closing time at 8 pm
  • A ban on the use of alcohol in public places
  • The obligation to wear a face mask (covering nose and mouth) applies throughout the territory of the Brussels Capital Region
  • Curfew from 10 pm to 6 am

More info:

Since 1 December 2020, the City of Brussels has been taking specific measures to manage the flow of visitors to the Rue Neuve:

Only go to the Administrative Centre or the liaison offices of the City of Brussels if it is really necessary. This in order to respect the health advice as well as possible.

The counters at the Administrative Centre are open from Monday to Friday (with openings on Thursday evening until 6:30 pm). The reception will continue as much as possible by appointment.

All citizens are asked to:

  • come alone (unless the presence of another person is necessary)
  • arrive maximum 15 minutes before the appointment time
  • wear a face mask during their visit (obligatory)
  • disinfect their hands at the entrance of the building

Citizens must respect the safety distances thanks to a marking on the ground indicating the place where they must stand.

  • Online services: the e-desk and My file remain available to request a lot of certificates and documents.
  • Information: for simple questions please contact us on 02 279 22 11 or by e-mail (all addresses can be found on our website).

More info:

All services of the Town Planning Department are closed to the public. However, they remain at your service by phone or e-mail.

Submitting permit applications

Submitting new applications for planning and environmental permits (or additional documents to a file already submitted) is now only done by post. Submitting an application on site is no longer possible.

Extension of periods

Pursuant to the power of attorney decisions nr 2020/038 (PDF, 312.53 KB) and nr 2020/052 (PDF, 428.55 KB) adopted by the Government of the Brussels Capital Region on 10 June 2020 and 23 December 2020, some terms of the Brussels Town Planning Code and the Ordinance of 5 June 1997 on environmental permits have been extended, depending on the date of the submission of the application, the type of application or the stage of the procedure.

Public inquiries

The organization of the special rules for disclosure (public inquiry and/or consultation committee) has been severely disrupted by the sanitary crisis and is accompanied by numerous measures and an adapted approach. These ensure that the social distance rules as well as the necessary hygiene measures can be observed to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

For example, from now on, the consultation of the administrative file, the communication of technical explanations or submission of an oral complaint are only done by appointment (02 279 29 29) or digitally.

Given the backlog during the lockdown and taking into account the current health measures, the files are handled chronologically, based on the date of receipt of the last documents added to the file.

Based on the current estimate, the files that will soon be declared complete will therefore not (on the basis of the current estimate) be subject to a public inquiry until approximately the end of May 2021, according to a schedule to be determined and as far as the evolution of the sanitary situation allows. Moreover, they will not simultaneously be able to be submitted for advice to the consultation committee.

The dates and agendas of the meetings of the consultation committee can therefore only be determined after the public inquiries have ended, in function of the responses received. After all, these determine how many files can be handled per session.

Consult the ongoing public inquiries at:

Consultation Committee

The organization of the special rules for disclosure (public inquiry and/or consultation committee) has been severely disrupted by the sanitary crisis and is accompanied by numerous measures and an adapted approach. These ensure that the social distance rules as well as the necessary hygiene measures can be observed to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Pursuant to the power of attorney decisions nr 2020/038 (PDF, 312.53 KB) and nr 2020/052 (PDF, 428.55 KB) adopted by the Government of the Brussels Capital Region on 10 June 2020 and 23 December 2020, and to allow everyone to assert his or her point of view in the best possible and safe conditions, the City of Brussels now organizes the meetings of the consultation committee exclusively digitally, via the Zoom platform.

From now on, the following rules also apply during the hearings:

  • Only persons who have explicitly requested to be heard during the public inquiry will be admitted to the consultation committee
  • In the case of a petition, neighborhood committee or other association, the number of persons admitted to the consultation committee is limited to 2 per petition, per neighborhood committee or per association
  • Only the persons in possession of an invitation are admitted to the consultation committee
  • The number of persons accompanying or representing the applicant is strictly limited to 2, including the architect

Given the backlog during the lockdown and taking into account the current health measures, the files are handled chronologically, based on the date of receipt of the last documents added to the file.

Based on the current estimate, the files that will soon be declared complete will therefore not (on the basis of the current estimate) be subject to a public inquiry until approximately the end of May 2021, according to a schedule to be determined and as far as the evolution of the sanitary situation allows. Moreover, they will not simultaneously be able to be submitted for advice to the consultation committee.

The dates and agendas of the meetings of the consultation committee can therefore only be determined after the public inquiries have ended, in function of the responses received. After all, these determine how many files can be handled per session.

Consult the new dates of the Consultation Committee meetings, the agenda and the advice issued by the Committee on:

Archives

Consulting archive files on site is not possible at the moment. If the files are available digitally, they will still be sent digitally.

Bonuses

Appointments for bonuses are currently not made, but requests for regional bonuses (premiums) for home renovation or facade decoration can be sent by e-mail:

The publicity of the sessions is ensured by broadcasting the debates via the website of the City:

Shops and traders

Shops are open (by appointment for non-essential stores from Saturday 27 March 2021). Mandatory closure at 8 pm, except for restaurant take-away till 10 pm. More info:

Respect all safety and health instructions. Nose and mouth protection is required.

Night shops have to close at 8 pm throughout the city as well. The opening is authorized from noon.

More info:

Safety measures at the Rue Neuve:

Markets

The markets can be reopened since 18 May 2020 after validation by the municipal government, under strict conditions of social distance and hygiene.

Wearing a face mask is required at the markets. Food consumption is prohibited at markets.

These markets are open:

  • Anneessens market
  • Place Sainte Catherine organic market
  • Peter Benoit and Rue de Wand markets
  • Place Sainte Catherine market
  • Chaussée d'Anvers market (from 8 am to 2 pm)
  • Bockstael market (from 8 am to 1:30 pm, at the Place Willems)
  • Place Agora artisan market (Friday from 11 am to 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm)
  • Anneessens bicycle market (opening hours: Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm)

These markets are closed:

  • Sablon antiques market
  • Place du Jeu de Balle market

Stalls and foodtrucks

An individual ambulatory activity (food trucks, chicken stall, ice cream vendor…) may be carried out at the usual place, if it has prior permission from the municipal government.

Since Friday 15 May 2020, these itinerant traders can resume their activities at the City of Brussels. Traders who have a location at the Rue Neuve or who only sell alcoholic drinks cannot yet reopen to enforce the social distance safety rules (Rue Neuve, Place Sainte-Catherine):

Restaurants and cafes

Restaurants and cafes are closed (since 19 October). Take-away meals can be collected on site until 10 pm.

Need help?

Hotels and aparthotels

Hotels and aparthotels are open.

Support measures

A website lists the local shops as well as the restaurants according to your quarter (online order, take away or home delivery):

The services remain available:

More information is also available at:

More information on the federal, regional and municipal measures is also available at:

Contactless payments are possible via various applications (apps) on the regional BiPass platform. These apps can be downloaded on a smartphone:

The police offices in the quarters are temporarily closed. The police only welcomes you in the 4 central police offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

All nurseries (childcare) of the City of Brussels strictly comply with the recommendations issued by ONE and Kind & Gezin to guarantee safe childcare.

More info:

The cultural centres, theatres and cinemas are closed.

The libraries are open. All cultural activities are postponed.

The City of Brussels has decided to retain all operating grants awarded to its cultural structures (its museums, theatres and cultural centres).

All sports infrastructure of the City is closed, except for:

  • school and extracurricular activities
  • courses and training (children up to 12 years)
  • maximum 1 accompanying person per child
  • professional competitions and training behind closed doors

The swimming pools of the City (Centre, Neder-Over-Heembeek and Laeken) are open. Booking is required (up to 1 week in advance with registrations opening every Wednesday evening for the following week).

The museums in Brussels are open:

The museums of the City of Brussels:

You can request information by telephone from your Community Centre to find out about the new measures and activities within each community centre.

A social follow-up of isolated seniors is being ensured via the free number:

  • 0800 35 550

Need help shopping? The Community Centres have activated a shopping shuttle system:

The social offices of the CPAS of the City of Brussels remain open and can be reached via the usual means of communication. An additional free number was also created:

  • 0800 35 237

Social Action Unit COVID

The Social Action Unit COVID (CSAC) assists the inhabitants of Brussels who were materially, financially and psychologically affected by the Covid-19 crisis:

Food packages

The Resto du Coeur in Laeken, which cooperates with the CPAS, is closed but takeaway is possible. Colis du Coeur remain operational. The non-profit organization distributes food packages to anyone who needs them.

Support for students and young people

The Public Welfare Centre (CPAS) of the City of Brussels makes free study rooms available to students to prepare their exams or for distance learning.

The CPAS has launched a new initiative to support the projects of young people aged 18 to 25 in difficulty. In collaboration with civil society organizations, the CPAS intends to reach out directly to young people in order to help them transform their needs into projects:

There is no delivery of street artist licences at the moment: message to street artists (PDF, 44.19 KB).

For all information about the new measures (taken in the Brussels Capital Region) to limit the spread of Covid-19:

STIB

The measures of the STIB public transport company (metro, tram and bus):

Collection of garbage bags

The measures of the 'Bruxelles-Propreté' Service (collection of garbage bags, Recypark, Proxy-Chimik,...):

Low Emission Zone (LEZ)

The fines within the LEZ (Low Emission Zone) were suspended till 1 July 2020:

Initiatives by citizens and solidarity

Connecting Brussels is a central platform for aid and solidarity during the coronavirus crisis.

The solidair.brussels website contains all the initiatives by citizens (solidarity actions) in Brussels.

A non-exhaustive list of initiatives:

Volunteers

Iriscare is looking for volunteers for Brussels hospitals and rest and care homes:

Created on 14/03/2020 (modified on 08/04/2021)

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