People’s house reborn in Anderlecht

On 16 November I went to the inauguration of the Maison du Peuple/Volkshuis Anderlecht, at the invitation of ex-AEIDL board member José Menéndez. The commune has used regional grants to buy and renovate this building, strategically situated by the Kuregem canal bridge. It is thus bringing an important symbol of the Belgian working-class movement back to life. In 1905 the area was green fields, and a country mansion, the Château de Cureghem, was bought and converted to house a café and events space along with the Magasin Centrale, which produced and distributed food. All these functions, along with social housing, are to be recreated. Not only that, but the disused Anderlecht railway station opposite will be reopened. As José said, this part of town can really be considered the “kilometre of solidarity” because of the number of institutions that took root there. Six years ago José also led the conversion of the COOP workspace and cultural centre across the canal.

We were treated to speeches by civic dignitaries, the architect and a long-time inhabitant of the neighbourhood who recalled the building in its heyday. This was followed by a buffet. In the afternoon a conference took pace organised by Cultura Contra Camorra, which operates a food co-op not far from me in St-Gilles, which imports produce from farms confiscated from the Mafia, and is presided by Franco Ianniello, my ex-colleague from the Social Economy Unit of the Commission.

Right now, the building is usable but undecorated. A second phase of renovation now starts. We should be enjoying the results by 2025.

History and plans at: https://bruxellesfabriques.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Maison-du-Peuple-Anderlecht.pdf