On 18 June 2025, we had the honour of meeting Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and representatives of the nineteen municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region. On this occasion, we presented Molenbeek’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2030 and shared our ambition to build a collective project, supported by all the municipalities of Brussels.
Molenbeek, starting point and driving force for transformation
Molenbeek, rich in exceptional cultural diversity but too often reduced to prejudices, now wants to showcase its residents as the face of a modern, inclusive and creative Europe.
Molenbeek for Brussels 2030 is a project with very high social value that promotes nature in the city, space for young people, social cohesion and the development of a local and creative economy. At the heart of this approach is a core value: Sadaka. An international word that means generosity, altruism, empathy and solidarity in more than ten languages.
A collective and sustainable bid supported by the 19 municipalities of Brussels
Together, we want to bring the values of Sadaka to life and build a common, creative and pluralistic culture that reflects Brussels. Fatima and Jan, co-project managers, explain:
‘This initiative goes far beyond a symbolic bid: it is a unique opportunity to tackle together the cultural, social and urban challenges facing the entire Brussels-Capital Region.’
Photos © Bryan Nicola Maxwell – Molenbeek for Brussels 2030
The nineteen municipalities have signed a long-term structural partnership with Molenbeek for Brussels 2030. In concrete terms, each of them will integrate a two-week artistic and cultural programme into the MB2030 programme.
The objective is clear: to anchor cultural and civic initiatives in the long term and to transmit the spirit of Sadaka throughout all the municipalities of Brussels.
We are now entering the final stretch before the official announcement of the European Capital of Culture 2030, scheduled for the end of September.
Would you like to support the project too? Together, let’s make Molenbeek for Brussels 2030 the next European Capital of Culture.
