Brussels, Belgium — After over 40 years of being shrouded in scaffolding, the monumental Palais de Justice is gradually reappearing as restoration efforts finally reach the building’s front façade. The extensive project, one of the largest restoration undertakings in Belgium, began in October 2023 and is scheduled to last until at least 2030.
Known as one of the world’s biggest courthouses, the Palais de Justice has long been hidden behind a “steel cage.” But with the unveiling of a freshly restored three-meter bust of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, this May, the building’s transformation is underway.
Outgoing Secretary of State for the Buildings Agency, Mathieu Michel, expressed his satisfaction with the progress, saying, “Little by little, the courthouse is revealing itself: restored, modernized, and partly freed from scaffolding.”
The initial phase of the restoration centers on the building’s imposing front façade facing Place Poelaert, an area spanning the equivalent of five football fields.
As part of this restoration, teams are laboriously cleaning and repairing each stone to preserve the structure’s historic integrity. According to Quinten Cleymans, the site contractor for Artes Woudenberg, the unveiling of the façade is a historic milestone.
“This is the biggest building in Belgium, but it has been left to decay for years. Once the monument is completely removed from scaffolding, it will be a fantastic sight,” Cleymans remarked.
The restoration requires the dedicated work of about 70 to 80 people daily. With the façade covering 22,750 square meters, the renovation has seen the replacement of 137 cubic meters of stone—equivalent to 370 tons or 14 truckloads.
To retain its original look, stones are sourced from quarries in Comblanchien, France, carefully shaped, and integrated into the structure.
In addition to aesthetic restoration, crucial practical renovations are taking place. Workers are replacing grouting and coating horizontal stone surfaces to prevent water infiltration. High-security rooms will also be fitted with updated glazing and reinforced glass to enhance security.
The initial phase is being tackled in three steps, starting with the front right side of the façade. Once this section is clear of scaffolding, restoration will begin on the left side.
A second tower crane, installed in September, is facilitating these operations. Cleymans anticipates that all scaffolding on the building’s right side will be removed by the end of 2024, marking a significant milestone in the restoration timeline.
The project is expected to enter its second major phase in 2026, focusing on the plinth beneath the building’s iconic dome.
Following this, attention will turn to the façades along rue aux Laines, rue Wynany, and rue des Minimes, as well as the adjoining courtyards. Each phase, Cleymans noted, will build on techniques refined in earlier steps.
The ultimate goal is to have the Palais de Justice fully restored and scaffolding-free by 2030, coinciding with Belgium’s bicentennial celebrations. However, with the project’s complexities, it remains uncertain whether this ambitious deadline will be met.
