Items left behind on buses and trams in Brussels will be given a new lease of life through the social enterprise Spullenhulp. Last year, passengers left behind around 11,000 items while travelling or at stops. Among the handbags and keys, the odd notable item pops up every now and then.
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Dentures, wheelchair & concrete mixer among lost property on public transport in Brussels
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All lost property is collected at a central collection point at Kruidtuin metro station. On average, this amounts to around 10,000 items each year. Items that are not subsequently collected by their owners will now be donated to Spullenhulp, which sorts, reuses or recycles them.
“This allows us to give the items a new purpose,” says Victoria Haeck, team leader for Customer Care & Lost Property. “At the same time, we are supporting the activities of a Brussels-based organisation known for its social and environmental work.”
Last year, transport operator MIVB recorded a total of 11,305 lost items, primarily handbags, wallets and phones. Books, folders, keys and school supplies were also frequently left behind.
“Every now and then we come across stranger items,” says MIVB spokesperson Laurent Vermeersch. “For example, last year we found a set of dentures, a wheelchair, practice heads for trainee hairdressers and even a concrete mixer.”
Passengers who think they may have lost an item on a bus or tram can report it via customer services. If the item turns up at the collection point, they will receive an invitation to collect it.