Bart Dewaele
Brussels hopes to open a second facility for drug users before the end of the year
The Brussels Capital Region intends to open a second facility for drug users before the end of 2023. A building is being sought for this purpose in the area between the IJzer and Ribaucourt metro stations and Brussels North Railway station. This part of the capital has issues both with drug dealing and addicts using drugs openly on the streets.
The first facility for drug users called Gate opened in May 2022 on the Woeringenstraat in Brussels city centre. During the summer the Brussels regional Health Minister Alain Maron (Francophone green) stated his intent to open a second such facility. A target date of before the end of the year has now been set.
The real estate company Anixton has been given the task by the regional authorities of looking for one or more buildings that could be used to house the new facility.
Four years
The aim is to provide a facility with a total surface area 1,100 m² in one, two or three buildings. If the facility is spread over multiple buildings, they should be located close to each other.
Also in Anixton’s brief is that the building(s) must be accessible to people with reduced mobility. The building(s) must also have a lift capable of carrying stretchers from one floor to another.
The facility will remain open for a minimum period of four years.
