In a strong gesture of unity, the Brussels Parliament unanimously supported Molenbeek for Brussels’ candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2030. By overcoming party divisions as well as linguistic and political barriers, the Brussels Region sends a strong message of cooperation around a genuine city-wide project involving all 19 municipalities. They also send a clear signal to the European jury, reaffirming political, budgetary, and cultural support for this candidacy.
This significant step strengthens our candidacy as we prepare for the final phase of the European selection process, including the jury’s official visit to Molenbeek and a second presentation, both scheduled for September 2025.
Our candidacy goes beyond a simple cultural initiative; it is a unifying project aimed at bringing people together and collectively envisioning a true societal vision, placing inclusion, collaboration, and artistic creativity at its core. This project addresses urban challenges faced by many European cities by leveraging Molenbeek’s diversity and creativity to inspire new forms of co-creation and citizen participation, where art and culture serve as tools for strengthening social cohesion.
The concept “Sadaka,” symbolizing generosity and solidarity across different cultures and languages, lies at the heart of this initiative. During discussions, members of parliament emphasized this aspect strongly, highlighting its potential to enhance engagement and collective action, while generating significant social and economic benefits for the entire Brussels-Capital Region.
This broad political support reflects a shared ambition to position Molenbeek for Brussels 2030 as a European Capital of Culture capable of addressing challenges related to sustainable urban renewal and cultural exchange, not only within Europe but also beyond. Indeed, the challenges of Molenbeek for Brussels 2030 are fundamentally European.
Together, alongside all those wishing to participate, we continue our efforts to strengthen collaboration, attract further support, and encourage broad participation from the citizens of Brussels, Belgium, Europe, and beyond. Together, let us meet this challenge and collectively build a better future for generations to come.
Stay tuned ↯
Subscribe to our updates
By clicking send, you agree to share your email address with Brussels 2030 and Mailchimp to receive updates, and other emails from Brussels 2030. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.