As the 10th anniversary of the March 2016 terror attacks approaches, Brussels’ Maelbeek/Maalbeek metro station is set to receive a major facelift this October under the Capital Region’s ‘Refresh’ programme.
Located between Arts-Loi/Kunst-Wet and Schuman stations in the heart of the European Quarter, Maelbeek serves as a key stop for thousands of commuters and EU institution workers daily. But beyond its role in Brussels’ transport network, the station holds deep emotional significance — it was the scene of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Belgium’s history.
On 22 March 2016, during the morning rush hour, an Islamic State (ISIS) suicide bomber detonated explosives in a metro train just leaving Maelbeek station. The blast killed 20 people and injured 106 others. The attack occurred less than an hour after twin explosions at Brussels Airport, together marking one of Europe’s darkest days of terror.
Following the bombing, Maelbeek station remained closed for over a month before reopening on 25 April 2016. In July that year, Belgian artist Benoît van Innis unveiled a permanent memorial artwork inside the station to honour the victims.
“It goes without saying that, of the dozens of stations, we are paying special attention to Maelbeek, now that it is almost ten years since the attacks took place,” outgoing Brussels Minister for Mobility Elke Van den Brandt said.
The renovation works will include modernising two lifts, redesigning the entrance gates on Chaussée d’Etterbeek, replacing entrance wall tiles, and restoring the stones at Rue de la Loi. Brussels Mobility will also reorganise the station’s layout, adding amenities such as a photo booth and vending machines while optimising available space.
The project also aims to bring the station in line with universal accessibility standards. Plans include installing guidance systems for visually impaired passengers, double handrails, and contrasting floor markings at stair edges to enhance safety and navigation.
Philippe Yenny, Director of Public Transport Infrastructure at Brussels Mobility, said the ‘Refresh’ initiative focuses on practical improvements within shorter timeframes. “Brussels Mobility and STIB/MIVB are combining maintenance work to minimise disruption to passengers and give the station a visible facelift,” he explained.
Unlike full-scale renovations, the ‘Refresh’ programme focuses on targeted upgrades that improve passenger comfort and aesthetics without long closures. This approach, Yenny noted, allows authorities to coordinate projects efficiently while keeping costs under control.
The Maelbeek works are scheduled to begin this month and continue through July 2026. However, officials confirmed that part of the project will be completed in time for the 10th anniversary of the 2016 attacks next March.
“In Maelbeek, we are taking advantage of the refurbishment to make the station suitable for the upcoming commemoration,” Yenny added.
Other Brussels metro stations — including Diamant, Osseghem, and Stockel — are nearing the end of their own refresh phases, with work at Delta station set to begin next year.
For Brussels residents and visitors alike, the Maelbeek renovation represents not only an infrastructural upgrade but also a symbolic renewal — a tribute to resilience nearly a decade after tragedy.
