Fedasil Center in Uccle: Guarantees Given, Concerns Remain

A new Fedasil reception center for 230 international protection seekers is set to open in the Brussels municipality of Uccle on July 14, 2026, sparking deep divisions in the community. A public information meeting on June 24 drew between 200 and 300 residents, with authorities offering security guarantees while many locals voiced persistent concerns about density, nuisance, and lack of consultation.

Context

The center will be housed in the former Armonea retirement home on Rue Beeckman and managed by Samusocial on behalf of Fedasil, Belgium’s federal agency for asylum seeker reception. It will transfer residents from an existing center in Koekelberg, accommodating approximately 60% families — mostly single-parent households with children — along with single men, single women, and three unaccompanied foreign minors. The facility will be staffed by 35 full-time equivalent employees and operate from 6:00 to midnight with permanent staff presence.

According to RTBF, Samusocial Deputy Operations Director Inès Da Cunha emphasized that “these are people we already accompany daily, with whom a trust relationship has been established,” noting that the focus is on autonomy, integration, and inclusion.

Key Developments

The June 24 meeting at Uccle’s municipal administration building revealed a community sharply divided over the project. Many residents expressed frustration over what they described as a “fait accompli,” arguing they had not been properly consulted before the decision was made. Concerns centered on the density of 230 people in a residential street, potential noise and parking pressure, and security implications.

Sarah de Liamchine, Director General of Samusocial, defended the choice of Uccle, telling attendees that “we didn’t come here by chance. Uccle has a network of schools, public transport and green spaces. It’s a neighborhood that offers favorable conditions for integration,” as reported by DH/Les Sports+. She also announced plans for neighbor meetings and open house days to foster dialogue.

While some interventions at the meeting were marked by xenophobic undertones, other residents called for dignified reception of asylum seekers. One resident, warmly applauded, asked how to become a volunteer at the future center. A neighboring resident urged dialogue in advance, stating: “We want things to go well, but we want to be able to meet beforehand, not wait until there’s a problem.”

Analysis

The Uccle center represents a significant shift in the distribution of asylum reception across Brussels. As The Brussels Times noted, the facility will be located in a relatively affluent southern municipality traditionally unaccustomed to hosting such centers, unlike other Brussels communes such as Molenbeek, Anderlecht, and Forest where existing facilities are concentrated.

This disparity was highlighted in December 2022, when then-Molenbeek Mayor Catherine Moureaux called for a federal reception plan, pointedly noting that “bizarrely, there is no Fedasil center in Uccle.” The current center thus marks a move toward more geographically balanced distribution — though it has generated significant local opposition in the process.

Belgium’s asylum reception system has faced persistent capacity challenges. Fedasil has relied on emergency measures and temporary centers, and NGOs have described the humanitarian situation for asylum seekers as worsening. Samusocial, already operating beyond capacity particularly for families with children, has been under considerable strain.

What’s Next

In response to resident demands for formalized commitments, Mayor Valentine Delwart (MR) agreed to establish a “neighborhood contract” (contrat de quartier) involving the municipality, Samusocial, and resident representatives. As reported by BX1, a monitoring committee will define commitments on security, cleanliness, mobility, and living environment, with the first follow-up meeting scheduled for September 2026.

“I think this is indeed the best way to formalize everyone’s commitments,” Delwart said during the meeting. She also issued a notable pledge: “If we were to find that this is not compatible with neighborhood life, I will take my responsibilities.”

However, some residents remain skeptical. One attendee captured the prevailing sentiment, noting that “there are many commitments made tonight, but they still remain somewhat empty promises.” On social media, particularly the “I Love Uccle” Facebook page, posts have called for mobilizing against the center, associating asylum seekers with risks of aggression and theft.

The center will open on July 14 as planned, and the coming months will test whether the neighborhood contract mechanism can bridge the divide between institutional guarantees and community anxieties. The outcome may also set a precedent for future asylum center placements across Brussels.