Anderlecht (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Around 70 undocumented migrants, including 12 children, were not evicted from the ACLVB building in Anderlecht after police, municipality, and bailiff failed to carry out the operation. Spokesperson Said commented.
As VRT News reported, the planned eviction of around 70 undocumented migrants from the ACLVB union building in Anderlecht was cancelled. This morning, Aug 27, 2025, the bailiff, the building owner’s lawyer, police officers, a representative of the mayor, and municipal social services arrived at the ACLVB union building in Anderlecht to carry out the planned eviction.
Residents and supporters had formed a human barrier at the entrance. After 2 unsuccessful attempts to help the bailiff gain access, police officers tried to move through the crowd without using excessive force. Despite these efforts, the eviction could not go ahead as planned, and the operation was interrupted.
“Today, we are relieved. We’ll see what happens next,”
said Said, spokesperson for the collective.
What stopped the eviction of 70 migrants in Anderlecht by activists?
After discussions between the municipal representative and the police, it was decided to cancel the eviction. Authorities indicated this decision was meant to protect everyone’s physical safety and to maintain public order. No violent actions had occurred during the operation.
The residents located inside the building previously stated they are available to leave when construction begins, but they are now waiting for a hearing in front of the Justice of the Peace that will be held on November 3, 2025, to hear the appeal of the eviction order. The municipality stressed that the eviction order is still legally valid.
The Zone Neutre collective has been active in Brussels since 2015, carrying out “solidarity requisitions” to provide temporary housing for undocumented migrants in vacant properties. The ACLVB building in Anderlecht, owned by the liberal union, had been empty for several months before being occupied in March 2025.
According to the collective, it was recently sold to a new owner. The new owner has applied for a permit to turn the building into a hotel. Authorities had planned the eviction for today. Zone Neutre asked supporters to come to the building at 6 a.m. to try to block the eviction and show support for the residents. Inside, the migrants, including 12 children, locked themselves in and refused to leave.
The municipality had set up a social hub on Rossinistraat for the most vulnerable residents in case the eviction happened. The cancellation shows the tension between grassroots groups offering shelter to undocumented migrants and property owners’ legal rights.
