Materials Quay
| Materials Quay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium |
| Coordinates | 50°51′46″N 4°20′58″E / 50.86278°N 4.34944°E |
| Area | 3 ha (7.4 acres) |
Materials Quay (French: Quai des Matériaux; Dutch: Materialenkaai) is a quay and park located along the Brussels Canal, on the border between the City of Brussels and the Molenbeek municipality of Brussels, Belgium. Once a key logistical hub for the city's construction industry, the site has since been redeveloped into a contemporary public green space and is crossed by the Suzan Daniel Bridge.
Etymology
[edit]The name Quai des Matériaux in French or Materialenkaai in Dutch means "Materials Quay", and reflects the site's historical function as a location for storing and transporting construction materials. It was officially designated by a decision of the City of Brussels on 15 January 1909, during a period of expansion and development of the port infrastructure. Before this, the quay was part of the undeveloped canal banks linked to the creation of the Jonction Dock (now the Béco Dock) in 1905. The term "materials" refers to the types of goods commonly handled in the area at the time.[1]
History
[edit]Early history
[edit]The Materials Quay was established in the early 20th century, following the completion of the Jonction Dock (now known as the Béco Dock) in 1905. Its strategic position on the Brussels Canal made it an essential hub for the import, storage, and distribution of materials such as timber, sand, and stone resources vital for building the modern city. The site was dominated by warehouses, open storage areas, and industrial infrastructure, all dedicated to facilitating the flow of goods into the heart of the capital.[1][2]
In the 1970s and 1980s, the quay gained notoriety as the location of the "bunker", which served as the headquarters for the Front de la Jeunesse, a radical and violent far-right movement active during that period.[3] As the importance of waterborne freight diminished in the late 20th century, the site gradually fell into disuse. Many of its industrial features were demolished, leaving large expanses of concrete and underutilised urban space.
Redevelopment
[edit]Recognising the potential for urban renewal, the Brussels-Capital Region launched an ambitious redevelopment plan in the late 2010s. In 2014, Brussels Environment, in collaboration with Toestand, a non-profit association that reactivates vacant spaces for socio-cultural use, initiated a temporary occupation project named Allée du Kaai. This initiative aimed to foster social and cultural activities in anticipation of the site's permanent redevelopment. The project was notably successful, attracting approximately 35,000 visitors annually and involving over 40 associations and collectives.[2]
In 2019, work was scheduled to begin on converting the disused quay into a public green space. However, the project faced significant delays due to severe soil contamination. The site, spanning approximately 28,000 m2 (300,000 sq ft), had been used for various industrial activities, leading to complex pollution issues that required extensive analysis and remediation. Experts had to identify suitable decontamination technologies that were both environmentally effective and financially feasible. This unforeseen challenge postponed the project's completion from the initially planned 2021 to 2024.[4][5]
Once the contamination issues were addressed, construction commenced in September 2022. The goal was to address the scarcity of parks in the densely populated Maritime Quarter while enhancing the quality of life and reconnecting residents with the canal. The resulting park was developed by Brussels Environment, with contributions from urban planning agency perspective.brussels and local community input.[6]
The park was designed to serve a variety of public needs and now spans 3 ha (7.4 acres). It features a sports zone near the Square Sainctelette/Sainctelettesquare, a public garden, a large skatepark integrated under the Suzan Daniel Bridge, and an open lawn area directly across from Tour & Taxis. The final section of the park opened in November 2024, completing the transformation of a post-industrial site into a vibrant public space. Materials Quay now serves as an important green link in Brussels' evolving canal-side landscape.[7]
See also
[edit]
- List of parks and gardens in Brussels
- List of streets in Brussels
- History of Brussels
- Belgium in the long nineteenth century
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Materialenkaai – Inventaris van het bouwkundig erfgoed". monument.heritage.brussels (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Materialenkaai | Brussels Gardens". gardens.brussels (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Quai des matériaux". www.reflexcity.net. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Aanleg park op kanaaloever start in 2019". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Becopark aan kanaal loopt 3 jaar vertraging op door bodemvervuiling". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Werken voor aanleg Becopark aan kanaal starten binnenkort". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Le parc récréatif Quai des Matériaux est prêt | Brussels Gardens". gardens.brussels (in French). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Materials Quay at Wikimedia Commons- Gardens.brussels page on Materials Quay (in Dutch)
- Gardens.brussels page on Materials Quay (in French)
