Speakers

Bev Craig
Lead for Economy, Business and International, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Cristina Suomi
Vice-President of METREX. Head of Unit, Strategic Urban Planning, City of Helsinki Urban Environment Division
Eilish O'loughlin
Head of Capacity Building at European Urban Initiative (EUI)
Jordi Vaquer
Secretary General - Metropolis, the global association of the major metropolises.
Dong Hwan Lee
Mayor of Goyang, South Korea
Rafael Tuts
Director, Global Solutions Division · UN-Habitat
Erion Veliaj
Mayor of TiranaBrussels Urban Visits
The Brussels-Capital Region is organising "Brussels Urban Visits" to showcase successful urban projects that have improved quality of life in the city. These projects are mainly related to key themes of the Brussels Urban Summit agenda: inequality, sustainability, integration and urban regeneration.
Brussels is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world with a rich cultural history. It is diverse, sometimes complex, but always imaginative, surprising and captivating. A variety of innovative initiatives, supported by the Brussels-Capital Region, are reshaping the city’s rich industrial heritage. The Canal district of Brussels, where many projects are located, is a strategic area of the city where the region is investing in its economic resilience.
Places limited. Registrations only.
Walkshops
Discover the diverse and ever changing urban fabric of Brussels during these guided tours
Venue: 17 Rue des Ateliers, 1080 Brussels
Guide: Ms Loredana Marchi Foyer vzw
Migratie Museum Migration tells the story of immigrant workers, the first arrivals at the Little Castle, expatriates, refugees, Europeans who moved freely within the EU and all the others. It also pays tribute to the many migrants who have helped shape the city.
Venue: 184d Boulevard Léopold II, 1080 Brussels
Guides: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - Doctors of the World Belgium - Solidarimo
RIBAUCARE is an integrated social centre bringing together five services from four associations with different specialties and audiences. They operate within the same building to provide a single point of contact for care and/or social services. The centre is accessible to all, with a special focus on people in vulnerable situations.
Venue: at the crossroads of rue des Goujons and rue de la Prévinaire, 1070 Brussels
Guides: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - Citydev.brussels
City Gate is a vast and complex programme that stretches over 130,000m² in the Cureghem district of Anderlecht. You will discover how a combination of projects including housing, economic activities and public spaces are transforming the Canal-Midi neighbourhood.
Venue: Canal area in Brussels
Guides: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - Citydev.brussels
Rich in industrial heritage, the Canal area of Brussels has become the place where a variety of innovative initiatives are reshaping the city's productive activity towards a more sustainable and resilient economy.
Venue: Canal area in Brussels
Guides: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
The Canal area has become a place of experimentation, where innovative initiatives are reshaping the inner city. The European Union makes this possible by providing financial support for urban development, social, ecological, and recreational projects that improve quality of life and sustainable development.
Venue: Grand’ Place, 1000 Brussels
Guides: TBD
How to make public spaces accessible to all?
Ten years ago, it was decided that, as of June 2015, Brussels’ city centre would be pedestrianised. After Venice, Brussels is the second city in Europe offering the biggest pedestrian zone. The guides will explain the urban project’s strategy and discuss the advantages and challenges of a pedestrian city.
Venue: Food Market – Abattoir SA- 24 Rue Ropsy Chaudron, 1070 Anderlecht
Guides: European Regional Development Fund (EDRF) - Abattoir SA Event & Communication - Brussels Aquaponic Farm Event & Communication
This visit enables you to explore the design of cities and their ecological transition in the context of the impact of food systems. An urban farm component can accomplish a direct link between the production of food products and the greening of cities. The project develops economic activities by encouraging the establishment of street vendors and food trucks through the creation of commercial spaces that also improve the city experience.
Venue: Rond-point Schuman 1000 Brussels
Guides: perspective.brussels - urban.brussels (TBC)
A new shared urban vision was developed for the European Quarter in May 2022 through participative workshops. It aims to transform it into a more sustainable neighbourhood by tackling the main challenges:
- turn it into a multipurpose neighbourhood (from 3% to 50% housing) with local amenities and taking advantage of the rise of teleworking
- transform the local street network into vibrant places for residents and workers
- radically reduce the carbon footprint of the building stock by stimulating renovation & transformation instead of demolition & reconstruction (circular economy)
- reduce densification & demineralise the core of urban blocks to offer resident-friendly and climate resilient surroundings
- tackle isolation by strengthening connections with neighbouring areas and by enhancing natural landscape features such as the Maelbeek valley and the East-West green corridor.
Venue: The Northern District
Guides: perspective.brussels- urban.brussels (TBC)
The Nord/Noord District boasts major economic, commercial and transport infrastructure. Crossed by the inner ring road, the canal and the railways, and characterised by high-rise single-function office buildings, the district is currently undergoing major changes. Several public initiatives and private projects underpin this renewed interest, and these changes make room for a new form of urban intensity, through a sustainable and environmental approach for better social cohesion.
Discover these new and ambitious strategies for diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods
Venue: Van Eetvelde House- 4, Avenue Palmerston, 1000 Brussels
Guides: urban.brussels
Celebrate 130 years of Brussels’ Art Nouveau and visit Hotel van Eetvelde
In 1893, world renowned architect Victor Horta put the finishing touches to Tassel House, the founding work of the Art Nouveau movement in Brussels. 130 years later, Brussels is celebrating Art Nouveau in all its diversity and stakes its claim as the capital of this international artistic movement. This visit allows you to explore Hotel van Eetvelde, a jewel of Brussels' Art Nouveau. Conceived in 1895 and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this project was, according to Victor Horta himself, his most audacious ever.
Access is made possible through the LAB-An or Art Nouveau Laboratory, a space for the promotion of Art Nouveau that offers a contemporary look at this Belgian and Brussels heritage and the themes it encompasses.
Canal cruise
Go with the flow and watch Brussels pass by
Venue: Quai des Péniches 1000 Brussels (Boarding) - Bridge Suzan Daniel
Guides: perspective.brussels - European Regional Development Fund - Port of Brussels-urban.brussels (TBC)
Due to economic and societal changes, the Canal area was in need of spatial, economic and socio-cultural renewal. A primary plan and various regional, national and European programmes are contributing to developing the urban potential of this area. Private projects and public initiatives are underway on infrastructure, public space, economic and cultural facilities, and historical heritage. The canal cruise offers a view of diverse and changing neighbourhoods, rich in pioneering projects, and a unique panorama of urban scenes where living, working and relaxing coexist.
Venue: Quai des Péniches 1000 Brussels (Boarding) - Bridge Suzan Daniel
Guides: perspective.brussels - European Regional Development Fund - Port of Brussels-urban.brussels (TBC)
Due to economic and societal changes, the Canal area was in need of spatial, economic and socio-cultural renewal. A primary plan and various regional, national and European programmes are contributing to developing the urban potential of this area. Private projects and public initiatives are underway on infrastructure, public space, economic and cultural facilities, and historical heritage. The canal cruise offers a view of diverse and changing neighbourhoods, rich in pioneering projects, and a unique panorama of urban scenes where living, working and relaxing coexist.
Stretch your legs
Get ready for some insightful exercise in the city
Venue: 59 rue de Namur 1000 Brussels
Guides: perspective.brussels
Perspective.brussels, Brussels’ planning agency, has developed (in collaboration with several Brussels-based partners) the ‘be running’ strategy to promote physical exercise. A network is gradually being put in place to facilitate running (https://perspective.brussels/fr/enjeux-urbains/sport/be-running). Put on your running shoes and sports gear and join us to discover Brussels during a 1-hour run! Departure and finish line are at Perspective’s offices. Showers and sandwiches are provided, as well as changing rooms and a safe place to store your belongings during the run.
Venue: 59 rue de Namur 1000 Brussels
Guides: perspective.brussels
Perspective.brussels, Brussels’ planning agency, has developed (in collaboration with several Brussels-based partners) the ‘be running’ strategy to promote physical exercise. A network is gradually being put in place to facilitate running (https://perspective.brussels/fr/enjeux-urbains/sport/be-running). Put on your running shoes and sports gear and join us to discover Brussels during a 1-hour run! Departure and finish line are at Perspective’s offices. Showers and sandwiches are provided, as well as changing rooms and a safe place to store your belongings during the run.
Venue: -
Guides: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Both the Brussels-Capital Region and the European Union provide financial support for urban projects that improve quality of life and sustainable development. Discover some of these projects by bike. (Belgium Beer Palace, MAD, Espace Hôtelier Bellevue, Winter Garden, etc).
City adventures
Places limited. Registrations only.
Only on Thursday, June 15th
Antwerp, Ghent and Leuven invite participants to take part in city adventures. Each adventure aims to showcase projects or initiatives implemented by city authorities that improve quality of life in Belgian cities, and/or address current global challenges.
Antwerp
Participants in the Antwerp city adventure will be guided on a 2.5 km walk by the experts that led projects in the regenerated parts of Antwerp: starting at the renovated Southern Docks park, we will walk along the Scheldt quays with its protective flood dikes towards Garden Street, a bottom-up initiative to green Antwerp, on our way to a closing reception in our beautifully renovated historic City Hall.Schedule:
13:15 - Participants meet in front of Chateau Moderne (Mont des Arts, 1)
13:30 – departure by bus to Antwerp
14:15-14:30 – arrival at the Southern Docks
14:45 – walk along the Scheldt quays
15:30 – arrival at Garden Street (Lange Ridderstraat)
15:45 – walk to City Hall
16:00 – reception at City Hall
16:45 – departure by bus to Brussels
Ghent
Discover during a musical boat trip how cultural players and the creative sector in Ghent cope with urban challenges such as migration, diversity and sustainability. During 3 stops, stories and experiences will be shared by people who remove barriers through cultural participation on a daily basis.The City of Ghent provides train tickets for the return journey to Brussels. There will be a possibility to store your luggage or backpacks.
Schedule:
13:30-13:45: participants meet in front of Plein Publiek (Mont des Arts)
13:45: departure by bus to Ghent
14:45-15.15: arrival at Handelsbeurs Ghent + welcome
15.30: start of the boat trip
first stop 'Green Track & De Krook: sustainability'
second stop 'Sint-Macharius: diversity & migration'
third stop: drinks & food at ENTR, multicultural and social restaurant
17:24-18:01: train from Ghent SP station to Brussels Central Station
Leuven
The Leuven city adventure will take us on a bike tour of one of Flanders’ largest urban development project sites situated in a medieval city centre. The ongoing redevelopment of the old hospital site combines urban greening and revived waterways with a sustainable residential area, a museum established by the university (and hospital), and a new performing arts hall. It’s a great opportunity to explore an ambitious sustainable project site in a bike and pedestrian friendly urban centre.Schedule:
13:30: meet Leuven representative(s) in front of King Albert 1 statue (Mont des Arts, 5)
14.00: train departs Brussels Central station for Leuven
14:30: pick up bikes in Leuven
14:45: bike tour through the historical city
15:15: visit Hertogen site
16:15: reception in Gothic Town Hall
17:33: train to Brussels Central station