La Mer du Nord to open franchise in Marolles district

The popular Brussels seafood bar La Mer du Nord has announced plans to open a third restaurant next month, this time in the Marolles district, at the foot of the Poelaert-Marolles lift. It will be the first La Mer du Nord location to be operated by a franchisee, writes Brussel Deze Week.

La Mer du Nord owners Wouter Vermeulen and Véronique Aelbrecht started their business 20 years ago as fishmongers on Place Saint-Catherine. Over the years, their stand gradually evolved into the current outdoor seafood bar where passers-by can enjoy fish a la plancha, shrimp croquettes and other seafood snacks.

Vermeulen and Aelbrecht have since expanded La Mer du Nord to include an oyster bar on Place Saint-Catherine and the Fishbar Mer du Nord on Place du Luxembourg. It's the fishbar concept that the duo have now decided to turn into a franchise.

The new Fishbar is expected to open in mid-April in the glass building at the bottom of the Poelaert-Marolles lift, Brussels' only public elevator, which connects the small Breughel Square with the Palace of Justice above.

It is the ideal location for the new Fishbar, according to Aelbrecht. "Our Fishbar is an open-air bar, which fits perfectly on the square.” Unlike the Fishbar on Place du Luxembourg, which mostly caters to weekday lunch customers, the new branch is expected to attract the most visitors on Sunday.