Saint Catherine

About 150 years ago, we would have been swimming in the water at this location. The Sint-Katelijnedok was the last dock of the port of Brussels. Here, the canal departed towards Willebroek, a trade canal from the 16th century that connected Brussels with Antwerp and the North Sea. The canal was constructed when the Zenne became silted, and Mechelen started imposing tolls on the river. Because of the extension of the canal to Charleroi in 1830, this branch of the trade canal became redundant and was gradually filled in from 1870 onwards. A new Sint-Katelijnekerk was built on the first dock that disappeared, replacing the old church that had partially burned down. The tower still stands, to the right of the current church. The preservation of the tower has to do with the fact that architect Joseph Poelaert realized during construction that the new church would not be able to bear a bell tower due to the unstable ground.

We are almost at the end of this walk. If you're starting to get hungry, you're in the right place, because here 'fast-casual' prevails more than elsewhere. Fast-casual is a trendy concept where eateries seek a mix between fast food and casual dining. The food is of high quality, sometimes even organic or vegetarian, but you are served much faster than in a traditional restaurant. More than enough options are available in this square and along Vlaamsesteenweg. One that deserves special attention is the Noordzee. This fish stall made the news due to its original concept: fresh fish, oysters, calamari, or shrimp croquettes with a glass of white wine at the bar. With the arrival of this fish stall, De Monk also became the only Brussels café with a view of the North Sea.

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