Foundry Park

Foundry Park (French: Parc de la Fonderie, Dutch: Fonderiepark) is a small but historically dense park in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean/Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, one of the nineteen municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region. It sits between Rue Ransfort and Rue de l'Éléphant, right in the heart of what was once nicknamed "little Belgian Manchester" for its density of heavy and metalworking industry through the 19th and 20th centuries.

Where does the park's name come from?

The site has industrial roots going back to the mid-19th century. In 1839 it was occupied by the Derosne and Cail factory, later renamed Cail and Halot, which manufactured sugar-processing machinery and railway equipment. In 1887, the Compagnie des Bronzes — a company founded in 1854 — moved into the same block on Rue Ransfort. It produced zinc, bronze and cast-iron components for construction, along with piping, lighting fixtures and artistic metalwork. The park's name is a direct reference to this company's foundry (French: fonderie).

How did the site evolve over time?

The Cail and Halot factory shut down in the early 20th century, while the Compagnie des Bronzes foundry kept operating on part of the grounds for decades afterward. Its market shrank steadily after both world wars, and the company was declared bankrupt in the 1970s. The abandoned industrial site was purchased by the French Community of Belgium in 1981. The municipality of Molenbeek, which held the land under an emphyteutic (long-term) lease, then converted the western portion into a public park in 1990, with financial support from a Brussels Region subsidy.

What heritage status does the site hold?

The site's historical value was formally recognized in 1995, when it was entered into the region's legal inventory of heritage sites. Two years later, in 1997, the former Compagnie des Bronzes buildings were placed on the safeguard list protecting them from demolition. Part of the former industrial complex today houses La Fonderie, a museum dedicated to Brussels' industrial and labour history, which collects objects, documents and oral testimonies about the city's working past.

Are there any plans to change the park?

Local authorities, working with the Urban Brussels planning body, have announced further transformation of the site, with construction work aimed at improving accessibility and diversifying the public space planned to begin in 2027.

Frequently asked questions

Is Foundry Park a large park? No — it is a compact green space limited to the western portion of the former industrial site between Rue Ransfort and Rue de l'Éléphant, set within an unusually dense pocket of industrial history.

Why is it called "Foundry" Park? The name refers directly to the foundry (fonderie) run by the Compagnie des Bronzes, which operated on this site from 1887 until the company's bankruptcy in the 1970s.

Is there anything else worth visiting nearby? Yes — right next to the park, in the former industrial buildings, is La Fonderie, a museum dedicated to Brussels' industrial and labour history.