Bright spot: murals in the North District

Between 1977 and 1980, a group of young people in Brussels' Noordwijk neighborhood created 22 enormous murals. At the time, it was the largest mural project in Europe. The initiator was François de Cugnac, then director of Sirtaine, a local wholesaler of electrical and telephone equipment. The reason? The demolition of the North Quarter for the construction of the crazy Manhattan project of 1967.
The demolition had progressed to the front door of Sirtaine. François de Cugnac recruited the recently graduated artist Pierre Gérard and asked him to 'Get me out of this dreariness'.
The first murals can still be considered artistic advertising panels, but gradually they became indictments of urban, social, or ecological abuses.
This walk first shows what remains of the old Noordwijk. You will then be introduced to the fantastic series of murals from 1977-1980. The walk ends at a recently completed mural.

This walk is brought to you by Erfgoedcel Brussel.

📏 1.5 km
🕑 50-60 minutes
📍 Rogierplein
🏁 Antwerpsesteenweg, near Maximiliaanpark