Street violence prompts businesses to reconsider their location in Brussels

The rising violence in parts of Brussels is prompting some companies to consider withdrawing from the Belgian capital out of concern for the safety of staff.

The chief executives of ING, Axa and Deutsche Bank recently wrote a joint letter to authorities about the deteriorating security situation at their headquarters around Porte de Namur, Bruzz reports, saying that “the current situation of aggression and crime affects the wellbeing of staff, who should be able to commute to the workplace in a safe manner”.

The concern is shared by other businesses, according to Voka, the Flemish network of enterprises.

“A lot of other companies are thinking about their place in Brussels,” director René Konings said. “Fiscally, Brussels is already unattractive, the insecurity could then be the push.”

The letter from the major banks was sent before the recent spate of shootings in the capital, and a poll by self-employed workers' organisation Unizo in December 2023 found that 45% of Brussels entrepreneurs were already considering moving their premises.

Another 6% had even planned a move to another region, citing reasons of mobility, taxes and a lack of cleanliness and safety.

“That was before the huge increase in shootings, which multiplied the insecurity problems,” Unizo’s Julie Huntz said.

“I am tired of the insecurity,” one Anderlecht shop owner told Bruzz, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to not complicate relations with the neighbourhood clientele.

“There are frequent shootings, my place has been burgled twice in the past four years, there is traffic aggression and sometimes surly people come into the shop, which makes me feel uncomfortable. During the day it's not too bad, and there are lots of police. As soon as it gets dark, the problems start.”

In addition to violence, the shop owner also noted the general deterioration of the neightbourhood through increased poverty and lower-quality trade offerings than in the past, along with new mobility rules that complicate shipping and receiving via vehicles, in addition to parking.

Another Anderlecht business, this one a major multinational, voiced similar concerns through a spokesperson, saying that even a prime location cannot make up for a lack of safety for workers.

“Some of the staff come by metro, passing the stations where shooting takes place,” the spokesperson said. “At the moment, there is no concrete plan for a move, but we’re apprehensive: what's next? If we can no longer guarantee the safety of staff, we might move, yes.”

The spokesperson added that getting in touch with police has not helped. Another shop owner said the same, describing the police force as “understaffed and overworked”.

The chief executive of Leonidas, Philippe de Selliers, also said staff are sometimes afraid to take the metro in the evening but that “our move to Nivelles, which is imminent, has nothing to do with the drug problem. We wanted a site that was big enough, and that proved impossible to find in Brussels.”

Bruno Colmant, ex-chief executive of Bank Petercam Degroof and Euronext Brussels, said the big danger lies not with the potential departures of Brussels companies but with the companies that do not come to Brussels in the first place.

“At the Brussels-Midi it’s downright filthy, I wouldn't feel like working there or receiving clients,” he wrote in a post on LinkedIn.

In the meantime, violence continues to increase in Brussels with another shooting in the neighbourhood around metro station Sint-Guidon in Anderlecht.

One person was wounded by a bullet in his leg and the gunman escaped on an electric scooter. The condition of the victim, who is known to police and was arrested for drug trafficking in the Peterbos neighbourhood just a few days ago, is stable.

Two people have died as a result of drug violence in Anderlecht since the start of the month.

On 5 February, two men opened fire at Clemenceau metro station. No one was injured. A day later, there were gunshots at Clemenceau and a passer-by was wounded. On 7 February, a fatality occurred as a result of a shooting in the Peterbos neighbourhood.

On 15 February, another shooting took place at Clemenceau metro station and a 19-year-old young man was killed.

Photo: Hatim Kaghat/Belga