Anderlecht is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the south-western part of the region, it is bordered by the City of Brussels, Forest, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, and Saint-Gilles, as well as the Flemish municipalities of Dilbeek and Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. In common with all of Brussels’ municipalities, it is legally bilingual (French–Dutch). There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within Anderlecht.

Sights

• The Collegiate Church of St. Peter and St. Guido is located in the municipality’s historical centre, on the northern side of the Place de la Vaillance/Dapperheidsplein, its main square. It contains the grave of the 11th century saint Guy of Anderlecht.
• Right next to the church, the old beguinage is home to a local historical museum.
• Erasmus House, built in 1458, and its medicinal and philosophical gardens can be visited nearby.
• The National Museum of the Resistance, which traces the history of the Belgian resistance and German occupation of Belgium during World War II
• The Museum of China – Scheut, which houses documents and pieces brought back to Europe by the congregation of Scheut’s missionaries, including a 15th-century bronze Buddha
• The Maurice Carême Museum, in the Maison blanche where the Belgian poet lived and wrote
• The Luizenmolen, a replica of an old windmill which once stood on the site
• Anderlecht is the location of the Cureghem Cellars, a subterranean complex of handmade brick caves with Romanesque vaults, pillars, and arches, originally the site of a cattle market covered by a forged-iron roof construction in the 1890s. The cellars were simply a foundation for the upper structure until the 1930s, after which the city council decided to make better use of them.
• Anderlecht also houses the Cantillon Brewery, a gueuze museum established in an actual working brewery.
• The Museum of Medicine, located on the Erasmus campus of the Université libre de Bruxelles
• The Jean-Claude Van Damme statue located on Boulevard Sylvain Dupuis/Sylvain Dupuislaan, near the Westland Shopping Center

Parks and green spaces

Green spaces in the commune include:

• Astrid Park
• Parc Forestier/Bospark, in Scheut
• Scherdemael Park
• Peterbos Park
• Joseph Lemaire Park
• Jean Vives Park
• Parc des Étangs/Vijverspark, in Neerpede
• Parc de la Rosée/Dauwpark, in Cureghem
• The Vogelzang or Vogelenzang, a natural protected area

Events

The annual Anderlecht fair, originally a cattle fair, was authorised by William II of the Netherlands in 1825. Since then, it has taken the form of a series of celebrations, which still include animal shows but also a large market, a floral show, and the recreation of a religious procession in honour of Saint Guy.

Economy

The Abattoirs of Anderlecht, located at 24, Rue Ropsy Chaudron/Ropsy Chaudronstraat in Cureghem, is the main slaughterhouse in Brussels, employing some 1,500 people. In addition to its main activities, the great hall serves as a covered market for food and flea markets.

In recent years, several major international companies have set up their headquarters in Anderlecht, notably the Delhaize Group, which operates many supermarket chains, from 40, Marie Curie Square, Coca-Cola Benelux at 1424, Chaussée de Mons/Bergensesteenweg, as well as the Belgian chocolate company Leonidas at 41, Boulevard Jules Graindor/Jules Graindorlaan.

Healthcare

Several hospitals and clinics are located in Anderlecht:

• Erasmus Hospital
• Joseph Bracops Hospital
• St. Anne St. Remigius Clinic