Ten iconic Brussels restaurants to close the doors

Ten long-standing Brussels restaurants are due to close now that the Beyaz brothers are forced to officially declare bankruptcy. Rumours have been swirling around the financial health of the company, which owns some of Brussels most iconic restaurants, for months.

Three of the establishments, which serve traditional Belgian fare, are on Grand’Place: Maison du Cygne (pictured), Chaloupe d’Or and Brasserie de l’Ommegang. The others are spread across Brussels and include Le Manhattan Café in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, North Express in the North Station area and Le Vieux Pannenhuis in Jette.

The Beyaz family, which owns WCO, the company name under which they operate, have been trying to save the company since last year, but the debt is too massive, according to court-appointed administrators.

The brothers are now forced to declare bankruptcy, though when each location will shut down is not known. New buyers can of course be found and continue restaurant operations, or use the buildings for other businesses.