The City of Brussels has launched a major clean-up of street furniture in the city centre. Benches, litter bins and road signs are being thoroughly cleaned using steam and hot water as part of a pilot project designed to prepare the city for a busy summer.
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Brussels begins 10-day clean-up to refresh neglected streetscape
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Over 10 days, benches, bollards, public toilets, cycle racks and other items will be given a thorough clean.
“Summer is coming and extra people will be visiting the city centre. Naturally, it needs to look tidy,” says Andreas De Kerpel, spokesperson for city councillor Anas Ben Abdelmoumen of PS. “That’s why we are cleaning all street furniture and removing graffiti and stickers.”
The project goes beyond just benches. Drinking fountains, lampposts, flower boxes and kiosks are also being tackled. “It really covers all street furniture in the city centre,” says De Kerpel.
According to the city, the intervention was necessary. “Anyone walking through Brussels will see that many benches are covered in graffiti and stickers. That creates a sense of neglect and sometimes even a feeling of insecurity,” he says.
“With this initiative, we want to refresh the streetscape. We’re not just removing the graffiti, but cleaning everything with steam and superheated water so that it looks like new again.”