Brussels-Midi station is one of those problem zones that can't be ignored but also seems too complicated to sort out. For many tourists, their first impression of Belgium is at best unappealing. At worst one risks falling prey to pickpockets or being harassed.
Besides its practical function as a hub for international trains and Belgian transport networks, there's little to recommend the location – better steer clear or make your way quickly to more salubrious parts of Brussels.
In many ways, Midi encapsulates the recurring problems associated with Belgium more broadly. There's the lack of coordination between municipal, regional, and federal jurisdictions; the need for more resources to implement structural improvements; and denial about the root issues. Add to the mix the profusion of concrete and drab facades and it's unsurprising that Midi inspires apathy and irritation.
But for nearby the station, the troubles can't be pushed aside. As a hotspot for crime – sometimes fatal – mayors of the adjacent communes have jointly called on aid from the head of Belgium's rail operator, whose voice they hope will spur the government to attend to the problem. Previous efforts to clean the area up have had only short-term success or displaced the issues.
Crucial for bringing about change is the lack of reception centres for asylum seekers. The mayor of Saint-Gilles highlighted the absurdity of "concentrating reception centres in a drug hotspot". He hopes that migrants might instead be spread more evenly across the country, which would prevent the problem from being framed as a failure of local administrations in Brussels and feeding into financial disputes between regions.
The mayors also call for a police station within the station, rather than periodic crackdowns on crime. A location for this has now been identified and should be operating "by the end of summer". But Belgium isn't known for making deadlines...
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