Wave of bankruptcies hits Brussels hotel and restaurant sector

Nearly 600 Brussels restaurants and catering businesses went bankrupt this month, including seven snack bars in the pedestrian zone, according to Horeca Brussels, the industry organisation that represents the capital's hotels, restaurants and catering businesses. The organisation partially blames the March terror attacks, but also the closed tunnels and the pedestrian zone, writes Brusselnieuws.

In a period of less than a month after the terror attacks of 22 March, 379 bankruptcy cases were filed with the French-speaking commercial court in Brussels, and 200 cases with the Dutch-speaking court. "Normally about 40 businesses go under in this period," says Horeca Brussels chairman Yvan Roque.

"Seven snack bars In the pedestrian zone have recently declared bankruptcy," Roque told the news website. The industry organisation is calling for more stringent action. “A feasibility study of the pedestrianised centre is urgently needed,” according to Roque.