Around 50 squatters have occupying a building on the Dansaertstraat in the centre of Brussels for past few months. However, now the owner of the building, the Erasmushogeschool, a Dutch-medium college of higher education says that it has started eviction proceedings. This means that squaters, who are from Moldova, could soon find themselves out on the streets. Local shopkeepers say they are suffering nuisance from the squatters.
One local trader told journalists that "A few months ago, a large group moved into the building. We're getting a lot of noise nuisance and some of their children also banging on the notice board outside our buisness". Several shopkeepers also report an increase in the number of thefts.
The shopkeepers interviewed by the Brussels regional news platform Bruzz have not yet contacted the police concerning the squatters. The Brussels-Capital-Elsene Local Police Service confirms that the building is being used as a squat, but won’t give any further information.
The building was to be used as student accommodation by Erasmushogeschool that currently owns it. The college of Higher Education’s spokeswoman Dorien Brouwer told Bruzz that "We know there are squatters. Eviction proceedings have been initiated, but we don't have any details on how they will be carried out”.
The building will soon be sold. "There is already a sale agreement with an external partner. The aim is to set up new student accommodation there," Ms Brouwer said.