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).
- Review and confirmation of the existing rules (8 January)
- Extension of the measures in Brussels (in French, 13 January)
- The 6 golden rules against the coronavirus
- Vaccination
- Screening and testing: screening centres in Brussels + Covid-19 testing
- Travelling:
- Travelling abroad + Passenger Locater Form
- Re-open EU: web platform of the European Union to safely resume free movement and tourism in the EU
- Coronavirus COVID-19
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ in English and other languages)
- Measures in several other languages
- Contact tracing: slowing down the virus together (How will I be contacted?)
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:
- Measures against coronavirus in the Brussels Capital Region
- Decree of the Minister-President of the Brussels Capital Region modifying the decree of 26 October 2020 on the curfew of 22h to 6h in the Brussels Capital Region (PDF, 201.78 KB) (in French and Dutch, 18 November 2020)
- Decree of the Minister-President of the Brussels Capital Region to issue a curfew from 10 pm to 6 am on the territory of the Brussels Capital Region (PDF, 1.98 MB) (in French and Dutch, 26 October 2020)
- Decree of the Minister-President of the Brussels Capital Region to determine additional measures in addition to those determined by the Minister of Interior Affairs to limit the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 (PDF, 4.20 MB) (in French and Dutch, 26 October 2020)
- Decree of the Minister-President of the Brussels Capital Region closing the bars and establishing emergency measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 (PDF, 452.97 KB) (in French and Dutch, 7 October 2020)
Since 1 December 2020, the City of Brussels has been taking specific measures to manage the flow of visitors to the Rue Neuve:
- Face mask in Brussels (new measures since 26 October 2020)
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 mid-February 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 mid-February 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. Mandatory closure at 8 pm, except for restaurant take-away till 10 pm. More info:
- Coronavirus: authorized economic activities (in French, FPS Economy)
- BXL gift cards
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:
- Instructions for clients (PDF, 99.52 KB) (in French and Dutch)
- Instructions for traders (PDF, 118.09 KB) (in French and Dutch)
Safety measures at the Rue Neuve:
- Private security - Reopening of shops on 11 May 2020 - Rue Neuve (PDF, 338.74 KB) (in French)
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: from Friday 17 July (opening hours: 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 (opening hours: Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 2 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm)
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):
- Food truck trail
- Resumption of individual ambulatory activity (PDF, 92.02 KB) (in French)
Restaurants and cafes
Restaurants and cafes are closed (since 19 October). Take-away meals can be collected on site until 10 pm.
Need help?
- 1819 (doing business in Brussels)
- Support measures for cafes, bars and restaurants (City of Brussels)
- Temporary extension of terraces and compensation
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):
- Local traders in Brussels (in French and Dutch)
The services remain available:
- Markets Unit: 02 279 25 20 and/or marches.markten@brucity.be
- Horeca Unit: 02 279 22 60 and/or horeca@brucity.be
- Commercial Events Unit: 02 279 25 30 and/or animations.eco.animaties@brucity.be
More information is also available at:
- Support measures for traders
- Support measures for cafes, bars and restaurants
- 1819 (doing business in Brussels)
- Economic recovery plan of the City of Brussels (PDF, 127.73 KB) (in French)
- Economic recovery plan of the City of Brussels (PDF, 172.53 KB) (in Dutch)
More information on the federal, regional and municipal measures is also available at:
- Support measures for traders
- Support measures for cafes, bars and restaurants
- 1819 (doing business in Brussels)
Contactless payments are possible via various applications (apps) on the regional BiPass platform. These apps can be downloaded on a smartphone:
- Mobile payment for street parking (in French)
- Mobile payment for street parking (in Dutch)
- New Bois de la Cambre mobility plan (since 14 December 2020)
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.
- Reopening of schools on 8 June 2020 (in French)
- Reopening of schools on 18 May 2020 (in French)
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:
- Coronavirus - ONE (in French)
- Coronavirus - Kind & Gezin (in Dutch)
The cultural centres, theatres and cinemas are closed.
The libraries are open. All cultural activities are postponed until 2021.
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:
- Reopening of the museums on 1 December 2020 (Brussels Museums)
- Online initiatives (Brussels Museums)
The museums of the City of Brussels:
- Museum of the City of Brussels (reopening on 1 December 2020)
- GardeRobe MannekenPis (reopening on 1 December 2020)
- Fashion & Lace Museum (reopening on 1 December 2020)
- Sewer Museum (reopening on 1 December 2020)
- Coudenberg Palace (reopening on 1 December 2020)
- Centrale for contemporary art (reopening on 2 December 2020)
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:
- Shopping shuttle (in French)
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.
There is no delivery of street artist licences at the moment: message to street artists (PDF, 44.19 KB).
- Homeless
- Operation Thermos (food distribution)
- Ordinance of the Mayor on the fight against non-compliance with emergency measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19 by the implementation of municipal administrative sanctions (PDF, 895.79 KB)
- Circular n° 06/2020 of the Board of General Prosecutors near the Courts of Appeal (PDF, 1.16 MB)
For all information about the new measures (taken in the Brussels Capital Region) to limit the spread of Covid-19:
- Measures against coronavirus in the Brussels Capital Region (in French)
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ in English and other languages)
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:
- Brussels' inhabitants are mobilising (Visit.brussels)
Volunteers
Iriscare is looking for volunteers for Brussels hospitals and rest and care homes:
- Call for volunteers (Iriscare, in French)