Brussels, April 7 — Hundreds of people took to the streets of Brussels on Sunday afternoon to demand access to “decent and affordable” housing, joining forces as part of the broader European “Housing Action Day” movement.
The demonstration, led by several prominent advocacy groups, aimed to draw attention to the deepening housing crisis in the Belgian capital and to press politicians for urgent, systemic reforms.
The protest, organised by the Brussels Coalition for the Right to Housing (RBDH), brought together citizens, activists, and members of dozens of civil society organisations.
They marched through the city carrying banners and chanting slogans in support of housing as a human right, not a commodity. Their key message: housing is a fundamental right enshrined in the Belgian Constitution, and authorities must act now to uphold it.
The event also had the support of national and regional organisations including the Walloon Coalition for the Right to Housing (RWDH), Inter-Environnement Bruxelles (IEB), and the Fédération Bruxelloise de l’Union pour le Logement (FéBUL).
Together, they called for sweeping changes to housing policies, including a massive increase in social housing units, stricter rent regulation, and an end to evictions without the guarantee of rehousing.
“Today, in Belgium, thousands of people sleep on the streets while others purchase properties purely as investments,” said a spokesperson from RBDH during the demonstration. “We are witnessing an intolerable paradox—soaring rents on the private market while tens of thousands remain on waiting lists for social housing.”
The organisations behind the protest argue that the current housing crisis is not accidental but the result of political inaction and flawed policies.
They stress that homelessness and inadequate housing are not inevitable but are the outcome of specific choices made by governments and society. “This is not a natural disaster—it’s a man-made injustice,” one activist said.
Protesters also demanded the regularisation of undocumented individuals, highlighting their vulnerability in the housing market and lack of access to legal protections.
The demonstrators urged the government to adopt a comprehensive plan to eradicate homelessness, emphasizing the need for both preventive and supportive measures.
Sunday’s protest in Brussels was part of a coordinated European effort to bring housing issues to the forefront. Similar actions took place in other major cities across the continent, as activists and residents united in calling for a fundamental shift in how housing is perceived and managed.
In response to the demonstration, local authorities acknowledged the housing crisis but pointed to ongoing efforts to expand social housing and improve affordability. However, protestors argue that current measures fall far short of what is needed to address the scope of the problem.
With a national election on the horizon, the coalition hopes the message sent on Housing Action Day will influence party platforms and push decision-makers toward bold, concrete action. As one sign carried by a protester read: “Housing is a right, not a privilege.”
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