Elke Van den Brandt, Brussels Minister for Mobility, has called for the city to organise four car-free days each year, her office announced on Saturday.
Currently, Brussels holds its single car-free day during the annual Mobility Week in September, but Van den Brandt believes more should be done, citing the benefits to residents and the environment.
“Car-Free Sunday is always a celebration. The city breathes, children play in the streets, people meet, there’s calm and fresh air. Why restrict this joy to just one day?” she explained.
The minister has proposed hosting additional car-free Sundays across the other seasons: one in spring, one in summer, and one in autumn. She specifically suggested tying this initiative to events like the Iris Festival, which celebrates the Brussels-Capital Region.
Discussions with the mayors of Brussels’ 19 municipalities have already taken place, and the idea of increasing the number of car-free days was “very positively received,” according to Van den Brandt’s office.
Through the regional mayors’ conference, the minister intends to revisit the topic with local officials to explore the feasibility of implementing three additional days without cars. This approach aims to return the streets to residents and businesses while enhancing the overall quality of life in the city.
