Brussels City Council approved the naming of two new streets after notable women on Monday evening, in response to a proposal put forward by Anaïs Maes, alderwoman in charge of public spaces.
The streets are Isala Van Diest Street, located at the Tour & Taxis site, and Jeanne De Schouwer Lane in Haren.
With this decision, Brussels aims to reaffirm its commitment to promoting greater female and diversified representation in public spaces.
Since the start of this legislature, 12 street names have been attributed to women.
Newly christened Isala Van Diest Street commemorates Belgium’s first female doctor and medical pioneer. Born in Leuven in 1842, she acquired her doctorate in natural sciences in 1876, followed by a degree in medicine in 1879.
Despite facing significant hurdles, Van Diest secured recognition for her qualification by taking additional classes at the Free University of Brussels, which only started admitting women in 1880. She was finally granted the right to open her own private practice in Brussels in 1884.
Isala Van Diest Street links Port Avenue with Charles Demeer Street at the Tour & Taxis site.
The second street name, Jeanne De Schouwer Lane, honours a social and cultural activist from Haren. Born on Verdun Street in Haren in 1925, she devoted her life to improving living conditions in her neighbourhood.
