Aarschotstraat

Prostitution is a common phenomenon in station neighborhoods with a lot of foot traffic. In Aarschotstraat and several surrounding streets, sex workers offer their services in display windows and squares (basements of residential houses). A harsh reality with many conflicts, often exacerbated by the very different approaches between the neighboring municipalities of Schaerbeek and Sint-Joost. The municipality of Schaerbeek is renovating facades and has a prostitution regulation. A prostitution officer organizes consultations with the interest groups of sex workers and the police. Sint-Joost prefers to get rid of prostitution rather than embrace it and has not invested in the neighborhood for quite some time.

In spring 2022, Belgium decided that sex work itself is no longer punishable. But this good news was overshadowed for the sex workers in the Brabant district by the increasing insecurity. In November 2022, a police officer was stabbed to death here.

Aarschotstraat struggles with a structurally claustrophobic feeling. Due to the construction of the North-South connection, the tracks ended up on an embankment, resulting in one side of the street consisting of a long, blind wall.

• Follow Aarschotstraat south towards the tall towers. It reconnects with Brabantstraat. At the top of the corner building, you see a winged statue.

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