‘Battle of Marolles’ commemorative plaque in Bruxelles, Belgium

The Marolles district is the popular area of central Brussels par excellence. It is famous for its flea market on the Place du Jeu de Balle, its antique shops and its friendly atmosphere. The district is also inseparable from the dome of the Brussels Palace of Justice, which dominates it to the east. However, in 1969, a project to extend the offices of the prestigious building to the detriment of several city blocks caused a furore. The fierce resistance of the residents is still known today as the ‘Battle of the Marolles’.

It all began on 30 June 1969, when the residents of the homes concerned received a letter informing them of their eviction. In all, 1,500 people were ordered to leave their homes within 6 months (without being offered alternative accommodation). With the help of the local vicar, Jacques Van der Biest, the protest was quickly organised. Only a week after the letters arrived, a press conference was organised in front of journalists. The media followed and supported the movement, giving it even more publicity in addition to the numerous (always peaceful) demonstrations and protests. The context of the time explains such mobilisation: Brussels was then in the midst of a process of ‘bruxellisation’: partnerships between private developers and the State were destroying entire neighbourhoods to replace them with modern projects. These demolitions were being carried out without consulting the residents - who felt they had no say in the matter - and were wiping out the heritage, social life and identity of the neighbourhoods affected.

When the plan to demolish Les Marolles was announced, the northern districts of Brussels (around Brussels North station) had just suffered the same devastation: the residents of Les Marolles were aware of the consequences of such a project. Many other districts of Brussels also feared the same fate, so the mobilisation came from far beyond the boundaries of Les Marolles. Faced with such an outcry from the whole city, the project was abandoned at the beginning of September 1969.

On 13 September 1969, a large parade was organised around the Palais de Justice to celebrate the end of the project. A symbolic funeral was also organised for the ‘Promoter, his faithful wife Bureaucracy and their child Expropriation’. A plaque marking this burial was unveiled in Rue Montserrat, a street that would have disappeared if the project had gone ahead.

The story could have ended there, but it has had far-reaching consequences to this day: the organisations that came into being in 1969 - such as the Atelier de recherche et d'action urbaines (ARAU) - have been perpetuated. Today, it is unthinkable to carry out a major property or public space project in Brussels without directly involving local residents and neighbourhood committees. This citizen participation can take many forms: preparatory workshops - to identify the wishes and needs of local residents - information meetings, site visits, and so on.... Thanks to this symbolic battle in 1969, Brussels became a pioneer in citizen participation in its major urban development projects. This principle has now spread throughout the world.