Ben Weyts, Minister of Education and the Flemish Periphery, has allocated additional funds enabling the Community Education (GO!) to purchase the large Bierenberg site in the municipality of Sint-Genesius-Rode for a new secondary school. This represents a significant breakthrough in the matter of the former VUB and ULB campus, which has been abandoned for over 20 years. This large, green 5-hectare site in a strategic location can now be revitalised, while simultaneously expanding the Dutch-language community education offering in the Flemish Periphery. This purchase aligns with Weyts' strategy to invest in a stronger Flemish presence in the facilitation municipalities and the broader Flemish Periphery. "This will be a magnificent project, which will also strengthen the Flemish foothold in Rode," says Weyts. "We have been working behind the scenes on this for years."
In the facilitation municipality of Sint-Genesius-Rode, a former campus of the ULB and VUB has been vacant for over 20 years. Until 2003, it housed the faculties of Biotechnology and Chemistry, but since then, nothing has been done with the site, which spans more than 10 football fields (just over 5 hectares). The site is strategically located near the Brussels-Charleroi regional road, exit 20 of the E19, a train station 800 metres away, and on the route of the future cycling highway F207. It is clear that the former science park has great potential, but until now, no future plan has been realised.
Minister of Education and the Flemish Periphery, Ben Weyts, has now allocated more than €4 million for the Community Education (GO!) to acquire the Bierenberg site. The GO! can either demolish the existing buildings or develop them into a new secondary school, as there is currently very limited provision of Dutch-language community education in this region. A new school is a perfect fit since the site is designated as a science park and zone for community facilities, allowing much green space to be preserved.
"After more than 20 years of vacancy and dilapidation, there is finally a solution in sight," says Ben Weyts. "I find it crucial that after acquiring the station building in Sint-Genesius-Rode, we now realise a new Flemish flagship in Rode. We cannot only complain about the decline of the Flemish character in our Flemish Periphery, we must also actively and assertively do something about it."
“It remains important that we invest in high-quality Dutch-language education in and around Brussels,” says GO! chief Koen Pelleriaux. “Every learner who wants a place in Community Education should have that opportunity. We therefore thank the Flemish government and the VUB for working with us to find a solution for this site.”
"We are delighted that the Flemish government and the GO! are giving new purpose to our former VUB-ULB campus at the Bierenberg site. It is a valuable location in a green environment and opens up perspectives for high-quality Dutch-language education in the region," says VUB Rector Jan Danckaert.