Ixelles presents nightlife plan to improve quality of life

The municipality of Ixelles has presented its new nightlife plan, called "Ixelles, la nuit", designed to adapt public services to the rhythms of the municipality and better regulate evening life, without undermining the area’s festive and student identity.

“We are a destination municipality, but also a place where people live,” said mayor Romain De Reusme.

“We’re not going against the DNA of the municipality, but Ixelles is also a residential area. The peace and quiet our residents are asking for is a legitimate request.”

Among the main measures announced are the creation of evening clean-up teams, with a guaranteed presence from 19.00 to 22.00 from Wednesday to Sunday.

“They’ll not only empty the bins, but will also go round with street sweepers and can, for example, remove graffiti,” said Geoffroy Kensier (Les Engagés), alderman for public cleanliness.

Other measures include the extension of police officers’ working hours, and the adjustment of the municipal administrative sanctions service’s hours, with teams able to intervene until 22.30.

Outdoor seating areas must close at midnight on weekdays and at 1.00 on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of public holidays. Late-night shops and newsagents must close at 1.00 on weekdays and at 2:00 on weekends and on the eve of public holidays.

The obligations of hospitality operators regarding customer management and cleanliness in the vicinity of their premises will also be strengthened.

The plan includes several preventative measures as well as a pilot project to combat sexist, sexual and discriminatory violence. A number of student bars in Ixelles made headlines last summer for being the sites of repeated instances of sexual assault.

“Several scandals have come to light thanks to Balance Ton Bar,” said De Reusme, referring to the resulting movement.

Ixelles justifies this policy by the high footfall in its area. The municipality has a population of almost 110,000, comprising some 90,000 residents and 20,000 non-resident students. One in four residents is aged between 18 and 29 and, every day, about 40,000 students are present in the area.

Ixelles is also home to 10% of Brussels’ restaurants, despite covering just 6% of the regional area.

The municipality stressed that it does not wish to go against its identity, characterised by universities, nightlife venues and attractive neighbourhoods, but intends to better manage its effects.

The vibrant nightlife often has a downside for local residents, who have to put up with the night-time noise and are left with dirty streets the following morning.

“Quality of life and nightlife are compatible,” said alderman for economy and trade Gautier Calomme (MR).

Under the new measures, once the terrace has closed, customers will no longer be allowed to gather outside in the public space in front of a cafe.

“The operators are responsible for managing their clientele,” said the mayor, adding that the council will monitor compliance with the new terrace regulations more strictly and promising tighter controls.

Not only will operators have to ensure that closing times are properly observed, but in some cases they will also have to refine the "look and feel" of their terraces.

“We’re seeing that the [temporary] coronavirus terraces have now become seasonal terraces,” said Alderman Calomme.

“They’re taking up more and more space and causing a nuisance. We want to emphasise the responsibility of the operators. We want them to work on the aesthetic quality of the terraces.

The municipal council is due to approve the new night-time plan this week. Once approved, it will come into effect in mid-April.

Operators who fail to comply with the rules first receive a warning, followed by a fine. If that does not help, a summons is issued, followed by a notice of default.

In Saint-Gilles, several cafes were penalised last week with a mandatory closure at 22.00 because they had not strictly adhered to a curfew. Such sanctions are also possible in Ixelles.

“A few months ago, I imposed a closure on a hospitality business that wasn’t following the rules,” said Mayor De Reusme. “A partial or full closure is one of the options.”

Pierre Hollander of the Flagey neighbourhood committee welcomed the new nightlife plan.

“Nightlife causes us a lot of problems, particularly regarding cleanliness and night-time noise,” said Hollander in a reaction.

“On weekends, we often cannot fall asleep before 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning. Now, at least, there will be a clear regulatory framework, and that is a major step forward. We have hope for change.”