Annual Celebration in Molenbeek: Effort to Secure City's Designation as EU Cultural Capital by 2030
In the heart of Belgium, the city of Molenbeek is gearing up for a transformative journey. The city, known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse community, has its sights set on becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2030 (ECOC2030).
The dream was sparked in 2016, following global attention due to terror attacks. Since then, Molenbeek has been working tirelessly to redefine its image and present a new face to the world.
Molenfest2025, a multidisciplinary festival, is at the forefront of this change. Led by renowned artists and mediators, the community is actively involved in creating costumes, choreography, music, and performances for the festival. The Kanal Foundation and the Maison des Cultures et de la CoheΜsion Sociale de Molenbeek are the main driving forces behind this cultural extravaganza.
The festival celebrates Molenbeek's diversity and solidarity, aiming to highlight how community spirit is the answer to gaining a new reputation and presenting economic opportunities to help the area rise from the ashes of a former industrial centre. Nearly 40% of Molenbeek's population is under 20 years old, making it a vibrant and youthful city.
The festival incorporates Molenbeek's cultural heritage, with 16 monuments and 9 historical sites serving as calling cards. These include the Kanal/Pompidou Center, set to open in late 2026, which is expected to be a new hub for the revitalization of Molenbeek's Quartier Nord and Laeken neighborhoods.
Molenbeek's challenges are the same as those across Europe, such as diversity, youth, climate change, freedom, and security. Co-mission holder of Molenfest2025, Fatima Zibouh, emphasised that Molenbeek symbolises these challenges, making the candidacy an opportunity to show another side of the city, rich in diversity, youth, culture, and art.
Jan Goossens, co-mission holder of Molenfest2025, stated that the festival aims to show that Molenbeek is not a dangerous or rotten neighbourhood, but a place where life is good. The festival has many projects in public spaces and directly involves residents, fostering a sense of unity and pride within the community.
The decision on which Belgian city will be the European Capital of Culture in 2030 will be announced on 24 September 2025. Besides Molenbeek, the candidate cities for the European Capital of Culture project in 2030 have not been explicitly listed in the provided search results.
The European Capital of Culture is an EU-funded initiative to celebrate diversity and generate cultural, social, and economic benefits for a city. In addition to performing arts, the festival includes "living art" practiced in dance studios, galleries, theaters, and other cultural spaces.
Whether Molenbeek will become the European Capital of Culture in 2030 remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the city is determined to change its image and offer a vibrant, diverse, and culturally rich experience to its residents and visitors alike.
