This Tuesday, 4 October, Brussels will officially have one more bridge – a footbridge, to be exact – which spans the canal, connecting Tour et Taxis to Gare du Nord.
This new work of art, which is of strategic importance, was not placed there by chance – it shortens the crossing time on foot and by bike for commuters going from the Gare du Nord to Tour and Taxis. Importantly, it will also open up the housing that is springing up like mushrooms in this rapidly changing district.
In the years to come, the footbridge will also be used for the passage of a new tram line, in addition to the bus lane that it will accommodate upon opening.
Honouring an LGBTQ pioneer
Beyond reducing the north-south divide often attributed to the canal, the new bridge honours an LGBTQ pioneer of Brussels.
The footbridge is named after Suzan Daniel – a pioneer in the defence of the rights of LGBTQ people in Belgium.
Born in 1918, Suzan Daniel became the first female film critic in Belgium. Although her name at birth was Suzanne De Pues, her pseudonym was inspired by the first name of actress Danielle Darrieux.
Active in the queer community of Brussels in the 1930s, she gradually became the leader of a movement that sought public recognition for queer people.
In 1953, Suzan Daniel took part in the International Committee for Sexual Equality in Amsterdam. Returning from the Netherlands, she decided to found the Belgian Cultural Center (CCB) – the first official queer group in Belgium. The CCB organised social and cultural events for the city’s queer community.
Suzan Daniel sought to focus more on political activism, but met with resistance from within her movement – often due to the sexism she experienced within the male-dominated organisation. This led to Suzan stepping away from the activities of the CCB.
In 1954, the CCB was renamed Center de loisirs et culture by the remaining men, and gradually became French-speaking and male-focused.
In 1996, an LGBTQ archive fund was created and named in homage to Suzan Daniel.
You may also like
-
Step Into Mustii’s Maze : To Find Yourself, You Must First Get Lost
Actor, singer, and the Belgian representant at the 2024 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest,
-
DAY-6- “MAUVAISES VIES?”: Debate on Fatphobia in the Queer Community with Marc Martin and Les Ours de Bruxelles
On May 12 at 7 PM, LaVallée in Brussels will host a free public debate
-
DAY-5 – Brussels Pride 2025 – “UNITE TO PROTECT” Interview with Xavier Wyns, coordinator
This year’s Brussels Pride theme is “Unite, Time to Protect Our Rights”. The theme emerged
-
TransPédéGouines Collective Faces Ban on Independent Pride March in Liège
The TransPédéGouines collective, known for its outspoken stance on LGBTQIA+ issues, has encountered a setback
-
When America Sneezes, Europe Catches Hate: How Trumpism Fuels Queerphobia Abroad
It’s often said that when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold.
English 
French 
Dutch