Jourdan Square

The Jourdan Square feels like a village meeting place, nestled between office towers and residential areas. There seems to be a popular atmosphere here (frituur Maison Antoine, café Chez Bernard, bakery Au Vatel), but a little eavesdropping quickly reveals that especially expats feel at home here.

Often, dark clouds hung over this square. Due to its location in the Maalbeek valley and close to Brussels' economically most important neighborhood, a city highway was planned here in the 1960s between Schaarbeek and Elsene. When those plans were scrapped in the 1980s, investments were made in the surrounding buildings and streets. By strengthening the residential function of the upper floors of commercial premises, the square retained its mixed character.

A second threat was the pressure from offices. The land on the north side, where the Sofitel Hotel now stands, had for years been the focus of a struggle against the developers. The zoning plan of 1968 stipulated that high office buildings could also be built on this side of Belliard Street. Speculators massively bought up buildings and let them fall into disrepair. Squatters occupied the properties. That a hotel was ultimately built instead of an office building was a relief.

The recent redevelopment that largely makes the square car-free initially met with distrust from some merchants and local politicians, but is now bearing fruit. The established Frituur Antoine received a new pavilion. Jourdan is buzzing again, but gentrification is being felt more than ever. Rising rents attract a somewhat homogeneous audience and force neighborhood shops to make way for trendier businesses.

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