Police complain of poor conditions at Etterbeek barracks

Police are sounding the alarm regarding conditions at the Etterbeek barracks in Brussels, where they say mould, rats and leaks are prevalent.

Police union VSOA wrote an open letter to leadership in federal police, criticising the dilapidated state of two buildings at the barracks in Etterbeek and saying they are no longer suitable as a workplace.

The letter refers to "a Soviet prison", "a page in an architectural horror catalogue" and "neglect bordering on contempt".

According to the union, there have been serious problems with the safety and sanitary conditions of the buildings for years, including "crumbling ceilings" and mould, a persistent infestation of rats and worms crawling out of sinks, "unusable" showers, broken lighting and a faulty fire detection system.

“What is currently happening in Block L defies all reason and common sense,” said VSOA, which provided Bruzz with photo evidence of the problems.

The union is demanding the immediate closure of the most problematic building until an official safety inspection has been carried out by the labour inspectorate.

They are also asking that sanitary containers be installed to replace the poorly functioning showers and want a future plan for the entire barracks, "no vague promises, but action".

A spokesperson for the federal police said leadership was aware of the problems and that solutions are being worked on, including short-term measures and a "medium-term search for a structural solution".

“Although the majority of our colleagues have decent buildings, several locations are in a state of disrepair – this is a situation that management deeply regrets,” the spokesperson said.

“Improving the infrastructure is an absolute priority for us, and this incident is just one example of the completely inadequate infrastructure conditions in which some of our federal police officers have to work. We are currently working on improving and rationalising the existing framework as part of an overall master plan.”

Some of those renovations are already happening in Etterbeek. Police inaugurated a renovated building at the station over the weekend, calling it "a sign of our commitment to a professional working environment that is tailored to the needs of our employees".

The work took more than two years and cost approximately €18.5 million.

A former 19th-century building was thoroughly renovated between November 2022 and April 2025 and transformed into a modern, secure and energy-efficient complex, with only the outer shell of the building retained.

The interior was completely rebuilt and adapted to the needs of the federal police. A 12-metre metal walkway was also built between the two buildings, as well as a security corridor.

The building was made fully accessible to people with reduced mobility and now meets the strictest energy standards.

Another recent improvement was the renewal of the perimeter security of the site, at a cost of approximately €3.8 million.