Brussels launches major spring clean of city centre with steam cleaning ahead of summer tourism season
Brussels has begun a large-scale spring cleaning operation across its city centre as authorities prepare the Belgian capital for the busy summer season. The campaign will run for around 10 days and aims to refresh public spaces, remove dirt and graffiti, and improve the overall appearance of key urban areas.
The initiative covers a wide range of public infrastructure. Cleaning teams are working on benches, street signs, litter bins, lampposts, cycle racks, flower boxes, drinking fountains, kiosks, walls, and public toilets. Officials say no element of street furniture in the city centre will be left untouched during the operation.
The project is led by the City of Brussels under the supervision of local councillor for Public Cleanliness, Anas Ben Abdelmoumen Anas Ben Abdelmoumen, who has pushed for a more visible and structured approach to maintaining public spaces in the capital.
City officials say the effort is designed to respond to growing concerns about cleanliness in high-traffic areas. They argue that visible dirt, stickers, and graffiti can contribute to a sense of neglect among residents and visitors, particularly in central districts that attract large numbers of tourists during the summer months.
To carry out the work, the city has deployed newly acquired steam-cleaning machines that use superheated water to remove grime and graffiti from surfaces. According to officials, this method is more effective than traditional cleaning techniques, especially for stubborn marks and stickers attached to urban furniture.
A spokesperson for the city, Andreas De Kerpel Andreas De Kerpel, said the operation is part of a broader effort to improve the visual quality of public spaces. He explained that simply sweeping streets is no longer sufficient and that deeper cleaning methods are required to restore surfaces to a near-new condition.
Authorities also said the timing of the campaign is linked to the upcoming increase in visitor numbers during the summer season. The aim is to ensure that key pedestrian zones and public squares present a more welcoming and well-maintained appearance.
Graffiti removal is a major part of the initiative. While some view street art as cultural expression, city officials say uncontrolled tagging and stickers can contribute to a perception of disorder. The cleaning programme seeks to address this while also reinforcing respect for shared public property.
The city has also acknowledged that public perception plays a role in the decision to launch the campaign. Officials said that worn or heavily tagged benches and infrastructure can make areas feel less safe or less cared for, even if they remain structurally sound.
The €40,000 pilot project is being carried out with an external cleaning company. City officials say it is an experimental phase that will help determine whether similar clean-up operations should be scheduled regularly throughout the year.
If successful, the programme could be repeated multiple times annually. Authorities hope this would help maintain a consistently clean urban environment rather than relying on occasional large-scale interventions.
The cleaning work has already started, and early results are visible in central pedestrian areas. Workers are continuing to move through different parts of the city centre as part of the scheduled rollout.
Officials say the goal is not only aesthetic improvement but also encouraging residents and visitors to take greater responsibility for keeping public spaces clean. The campaign is being framed as both a maintenance effort and a symbolic message about civic pride.
As Brussels prepares for the summer influx, authorities believe the initiative will help strengthen the city’s image as a well-kept European capital, while balancing the ongoing debate over graffiti, urban art, and public space management.
