Former post sorting office at Flagey for sale

A bustling hub for all things letters and parcels until it shut seven years ago, Ixelles’ former main post office, behind Place Flagey, is once again up for sale.

To ensure that the new interpretation is in line with the cultural and social fabric of the neighbourhood, Ixelles municipal council has drawn up a number of guidelines. For example, 65% of the building must be reserved for culture, education and associations.

In 2020, real estate magnate Dominique Janne bought the post office at Chaussée de Boondael 55, after Brussels postal operator Bpost put the building on the market a year earlier.

According to Bruzz, Janne has not gone through with the sale, and so the building is on the market again. The housing website Biddit.be states the starting bid as €4.3 million. People can place bids from 15 to 23 September 2025 and the first offers will be accepted from the beginning of this month.

Ixelles mayor Romain de Reusme (Socialist) said that to ensure the future functions of the building meet the area’s needs, on 10 June, the municipality has issued new reconversion guidelines.

The commune highlights the “important heritage value” of the modernist building constructed in 1961 by the architect N Nemegeer over three floors. One of the capital’s three postal sorting centres, the emblematic building also houses a monumental fresco (1965) by Émile Salkin, depicting the history of the postal services.

The “increasing demand for public buildings” is also cited. The council insists that at least 65% of the 1,684m² building should be dedicated to educational, cultural and social projects and for the use of local associations.

The building’s interior and exterior structure cannot be altered. There must be no roof built over the courtyard, nor any parking spot created unless absolutely necessary, the guidelines make clear. In addition, the main hall and Salkin’s fresco must be preserved.

The plans also recommend the inclusion of social housing for families and student accommodation in upper floors of the reconverted postal hub. These demands are not legally binding, but Ixelles municipality has issued a permit for them, and said that the new owner should take this into account.

“Our ambition is to see a real urban and cultural hub developing in this emblematic space,” said Ixelles urban alderwoman Julie de Groote (Les Engagés), emphasising that any idea of using the space for co-living, Airbnb or hospitality were out of the question.

When the post office was first saved from demolition, Ixelles council also suggested that the building could be used as a school, museum or academy.