Two new bridges for cyclists and pedestrians open in Brussels

Two new bicycle and pedestrian bridges across the canal in the centre of Brussels were inaugurated on Saturday.

The new bridges over the Brussels-Charleroi canal, linking the municipality of Molenbeek and the city of Brussels, are situated about one kilometre apart; one located at the Comte de Flandre metro station and the other near the Mima Museum and the Ninove Gate.

The opening ceremony, which included concerts, acrobatic acts and an inauguration procession, was attended by the Mayors of Brussels and Molenbeek, Philippe Close and Catherine Moureaux, as well as Brussels Minister for Mobility and Public Works Elke Van den Brandt and Federal Minister responsible for Beliris, Karine Lalieux.

The bridges, which together cost €3.5 million to build, have been named after two prominent women after a public vote in which 5,000 people took part. The bridge at the Comte de Flandre metro station is named after women's rights campaigner Loredana Marchi while the bridge at the Mima museum bears the name of the Moroccan sociologist Fatima Mernissi.‎

The Fatima Mernissi bridge is adorned by artwork from Belgian duo Mon Colonel & Spit which is designed to raise awareness about pollution and care for the environment‎. An eel stretches out along the outside of the bridge while on the inside, a message in both French and Dutch, reads: “Not only the eel returns to the sea. The canal is life. Respect it”. Artistic depictions of rubbish painted by the duo surround the text.