🚇 50 Years of Brussels Metro: Behind the Scenes at Jacques Brel Depot
About the event
Car-Free Sunday Special • Hidden Brussels • Urban Exploration • Social Meetup
Ever wondered what happens behind the closed doors where Brussels’ metro trains sleep, get serviced and prepare to roll out each morning?
For the 50th anniversary of the Brussels Metro (1976–2026), STIB/MIVB is exceptionally opening the gates of the Jacques Brel Metro Depot in Anderlecht — a huge industrial site that is normally closed to the public.
And there’s another reason to join us: it’s Car-Free Sunday in Brussels.
Come discover a hidden side of the city with Sunday Vacations, meet new people and enjoy an easy Sunday morning together.
Solo joiners are absolutely welcome. 🌍
🌍 EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW
This is not a typical museum visit.
We’ll meet at Jacques Brel Metro Station before the depot opens and head inside together to discover the infrastructure and technology that keep Brussels moving.
The depot covers around 6 hectares, giving us the opportunity to explore maintenance areas, metro equipment, historical displays and other behind-the-scenes spaces made accessible for this special anniversary event.
Afterwards, we’ll regroup and continue the social side of the morning with an optional drink, lunch or relaxed walk towards the canal.
There’s no pressure to know anyone beforehand — many Sunday Vacations participants join on their own.
🏷️ EVENT TYPE
🌍 Community Event
Urban discovery • Industrial heritage • Photography • Brussels • Social connection
Easy activity level — mostly standing and walking.
✨ HIGHLIGHTS
🚇 Step inside a working Brussels metro depot normally closed to the public
🔧 Discover maintenance halls and behind-the-scenes infrastructure
🎮 See metro driving simulators/cabins and technical displays available during the open day
👀 Get a different perspective on the trains and how they are maintained
📸 Great opportunity for urban and industrial photography, subject to any on-site restrictions
🏙️ Experience Brussels on Car-Free Sunday
🌍 Meet an international mix of people from Brussels and beyond
🥂 Optional post-visit drink, lunch or canal-side stroll
🗓️ THE PLAN
Sunday, 20 September 2026
09:45–10:00 | Meet the group
📍 Outside Jacques Brel Metro Station (Line 5) Exit towards Rue Nicolas Doyen
Please arrive by 09:45.
The gates are scheduled to open at 10:00, and we’re meeting early so we can enter before the busier part of the day.
Look out for your Sunday Vacations host:
👋 Host: Gary & Deepak
10:00–12:00 | Explore Jacques Brel Depot 🚇
We enter the depot together and discover the open-day activities and displays.
Because this is a large site, you’ll also have time to explore at your own pace, stop for photos and spend longer at the things that interest you.
Around 12:15 | Regroup + optional social time ☕🥪
We’ll regroup outside the main entrance.
Those who want to continue can join us for an informal drink or bite nearby.
Depending on the mood of the group, we may instead make the most of the quieter Car-Free Sunday streets and take a relaxed stroll towards the canal.
The official Sunday Vacations meetup ends after the depot visit, so the post-event social is completely optional.
📍 MEETING POINT
Jacques Brel Metro Station — Line 5 Anderlecht, Brussels
Meet outside the station at the exit towards Rue Nicolas Doyen.
⏰ Meeting: 09:45 🚪 Depot opening: 10:00
Please be punctual so we can enter together.
💶 PRICE / CONTRIBUTION
FREE
There is no Sunday Vacations participation contribution for this Community Event.
Depot admission is free as part of the public open-day programme.
Any food, drinks or other personal purchases after the visit are at your own expense and paid directly to the relevant third-party provider.
🌍 SUNDAY VACATIONS MEMBERSHIP
Sunday Vacations is a Brussels-based community bringing international professionals, expats and locals together through shared experiences, nature, culture and discovery.
More information at [www.sundayvacations.com](www.sundayvacations.com)
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