Brussels Launches Major Clean-Up at Midi Station

A large-scale clean-up operation began around Brussels Midi Station on Thursday morning, mobilising street sweepers, waste removal trucks, and manual cleaning crews in an effort to tackle the chronic litter and illegal dumping that have plagued one of Europe’s busiest railway hubs. The operation, organised by Bruxelles-Propreté (Net Brussel) and the municipality of Saint-Gilles, was initiated by Brussels State Secretary for Public Cleanliness Audrey Henry (MR) as the first tangible step in the government’s broader “Plan Gares” strategy.

Context

Brussels Midi Station is a major European transport gateway, serving international high-speed trains (Eurostar, Thalys, ICE), domestic rail services, metro lines, and bus connections. Located in the municipality of Saint-Gilles, it is often the first point of contact for visitors arriving in the Belgian capital. Yet for years, the area has suffered from persistent cleanliness problems — illegal waste dumping, overflowing bins, homeless encampments, and urine odours in underpasses — prompting repeated complaints from residents and negative first impressions from tourists.

According to RTBF, previous clean-up campaigns have been conducted but consistently failed to produce lasting results. The chronic nature of the problem was summed up by Mourad, a Bruxelles-Propreté worker, who noted that on a normal day, his van must be filled two or three times completely with garbage bags before a tunnel is clean again.

Key Developments

The operation, which began at 07:00 on Thursday, targeted several streets around the station, including Avenue Fonsny, Boulevard du Midi, Avenue Jamar, Place Bara, Rue Bara, Place Victor Horta, Rue de France, and Rue des Vétérinaires. Additional streets — Rue de l’Argonne, Rue de Russie, and Rue d’Angleterre — were hosed down with water. Resources deployed included two trucks for illegal dumping removal and four street sweepers.

State Secretary Audrey Henry addressed cleaning staff at the start of the operation. As BRUZZ reported, she described the effort as “the first step in a broader station plan, which aims to make Zuidstation cleaner. So we can once again be proud of a place that is the gateway for travelers.”

Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette (PS) was also present, emphasising the need for better coordination between the various authorities responsible for the station area. “But it’s starting to change,” he said. “One of the goals today is therefore better coordination of that cooperation.”

However, workers expressed scepticism about the durability of the clean-up. Alessandra, another Bruxelles-Propreté worker, described finding everything from cans and wallets to knives and cigarette butts in the drains. “Yes, we clean. And then it’s disgusting again. In the end, we lose a bit of hope,” she told RTBF.

Analysis

The clean-up operation is the first visible manifestation of the “Plan Gares,” a €10 million initiative formally validated by the Brussels government on June 18, 2026. As reported by RTBF, the plan is structured around five priorities: deploying 60 surveillance cameras across Midi and Nord stations, enhancing security presence, conducting deep cleaning (including a “one-shot” disinfection by a private contractor), urban redesign using “security by design” principles, and providing social and health support for vulnerable populations through Brussels’help, Samu social, and the Red Cross.

The political stakes are significant. Minister-President Boris Dilliès (MR) made Midi Station his first official visit on his first day in office on 16 February 2026, signalling that the area’s revitalisation is a top priority for his government. The operation thus serves as an early test of whether the new administration can deliver on its promises.

According to The Brussels Times, the approach combines enforcement with social support, reflecting a balanced strategy that avoids a purely repressive response to homelessness and marginalisation. Yet the long-term challenges remain formidable: the area’s problems are deeply linked to social marginalisation, drug use, and the involvement of multiple authorities (region, municipality, federal police, SNCB/NMBS railway company, and STIB/MIVB public transport), making sustained coordination complex.

What’s Next

State Secretary Henry has promised another major operation at Midi Station in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the government is working on longer-term measures: Minister of Economy Laurent Hublet has been tasked with developing an economic development plan for the Midi quarter, and State Secretary for Urban Renewal Ans Persoons is expected to present an action plan by September for redeveloping unused spaces under the railway tracks — known as the “quadrilatères” — into living spaces.

Whether these efforts will break the cycle of clean-up and relapse remains an open question. As one Greek tourist told RTBF, reflecting on the area’s condition: “It’s the first image you get of the city. And for me, it wasn’t a good first impression.” The coming months will reveal whether the Dilliès government can change that perception for good.