Bright spot: murals in the North District

Between 1977 and 1980, a group of young people created 22 enormous murals in Brussels’ North Quarter. 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 District to make way for the massive Manhattan Project of 1967.
The demolition had advanced right up to Sirtaine’s front door. François de Cugnac recruited the recently graduated artist Pierre Gérard and asked him, “Get me out of this dreariness.”
The first murals can still be considered artistic billboards, but gradually they became indictments of urban planning, social, or ecological abuses.
This walk first shows what remains of the old Noordwijk. You will then discover 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

Scan the QR code with ErfgoedApp start the tour, or start the tour in the app.