Car-Free Sunday in Brussels: flea Markets,Family Fun & Festive Streets
Brussels will transform into Europe’s largest car-free zone on Sunday,September 21st,from 9:30 am to 7 pm,offering a diverse range of activities for all ages. Beyond the core principle of promoting enduring mobility, the day promises flea markets, family-friendly events, and vibrant celebrations.
A Day of Discovery & Deals:
for bargain hunters, several flea markets will be open. Schaerbeek hosts a traditional flea market on Daillyplein,while another can be found on the Vlaamsesteenweg in the city of Brussels. Those looking for sustainable fashion can visit GC De Markten’s closet sale, offering a chance to buy and sell second-hand clothes. Auderghem also features a second-hand bike market alongside a pump track course on pinoyplein.
Family-Focused Festivities:
Bozar is hosting a festive family program, including exhibitions, concerts, and workshops, culminating in a free open-air film screening on their roof terrace. Several municipalities are organizing “mobility villages” packed wiht activities. Etterbeek’s Van Meyelplein and General Lemanstraat will feature animations and food trucks, while Schaarbeek boasts a wide program with music events and folk games across twelve locations.
Sint-Agatha-Berchem’s mobility village on Koning Boudewijnplein and Sint-Agatha forecourt boomboum offers everything from obstacle courses to a repair café. Uccle’s workshops on sint-Pietersvoorplein will teach attendees how to build bird houses and insect hotels, or explore zero waste living and create a climate fresco. Ganshoren plans a gastronomic walk on Queen Fabiolaplein. La Ruche d’art is facilitating a participatory art studio for the Fedasil center in Molenbeek, inviting residents and passersby to collaboratively envision the city of tomorrow and sustainable mobility through art.
Getting Around & Significant Details:
Public transport will be free all day, with STIB reinforcing many lines. NMBS offers a special “Mobility Ticket” – a round-trip second-class ticket between any two Belgian stations for €8. Cycloparking provides free guarded bike parking (for the first four hours) at beurs and Brouckère metro stations.
For those arriving by car, Parking C at De Heysel (8,000 spaces, €12 per day) and the pendel parking lots of Coovi and kraainem are available, with the latter being freely accessible. Brussels Mobility notes that tunnels and entrances will be gradually closed and reopened, possibly causing traffic disruption before and after the car-free hours. The maximum speed limit throughout the capital will be 30 km/h.
this year’s Car-Free Sunday also coincides with the brussels Heritage Days,which are dedicated to Art Deco,with over eighty buildings opening their doors alongside walks,tours,and exhibitions.
