From now on, the legendary techno club Fuse has to close at 2 am and is no longer allowed to play music louder than 95 decibels. Under those circumstances, the club cannot continue to work, it sounds. That is why the Fuse temporarily closes its doors in protest. Fans and politicians are outraged. “I will do everything I can to ensure that the Fuse reopens as soon as possible,” promises Brussels mayor Philippe Close (PS).
“Fuse has to close,” the Brussels techno temple announces the news via Instagram. After 29 years, the Fuse has been told by the Brussels Environment Agency that the club will have to close at 2 am from now on. Complaints from a neighbor about noise nuisance would be the basis of that decision.
The verdict: music no louder than 95 decibels and close at 2am. “It’s impossible to run a club in those conditions,” writes Fuse. “That’s why the club remains completely closed today.” All events have been canceled this and next week. Fuse sends vouchers to people who already bought a ticket.
The complaints of the neighbor go back years. Fuse would have already carried out insulation work, but in vain.
The club would have appealed against the decision to Brussels Environment. The final verdict will be issued at the end of January. The Brussels agency is not available for comment at the time of writing.
“It is unfortunate that this iconic club that brings together thousands of music lovers and employs 80 people on weekends has to close because of one neighbor,” Fuse said.
Petition Started
The first bewildered reactions can be heard in the Brussels nightlife. “It has been a trend in recent years that clubs are banned from the city,” says Koen Galle to BRUZZ in a first reaction, he is a DJ and expert of Brussels nightlife. “I hate that it’s happening this way. Fuse has been around for so long and it’s an institution in the city. Why isn’t the government working with the club to prepare for a long-term move?”
Immediately after the announcement of the news, a petition to keep the club open circulated, gaining 700 signatures in no time. And still counting.
The first politicians also react to the news. For example, Brussels Secretary of State for Urban Planning and Heritage Pascal Smet (one.brussels) writes that the parties involved must take their responsibility and cooperate constructively in finding a solution. According to Smet, nightlife is an essential part of city life: “We cannot let this Brussels icon die.”
Philippe Close (PS), mayor of the City of Brussels, has also spoken about a possible closure. “I will do everything I can to reopen it as soon as possible,” he said on Twitter.
This article is originally published on bruzz.be
