Brussels House Peculiarities Brussels

Shoe cleaners

Renata from Brussels

"I invite you to not only look at the pavement in Brussels, but also the buildings: there you will find these curious "shoe cleaners" that go way back..."

While walking in the streets of Brussels, we all tend to look at the pavement because it's very uneven and difficult to walk on, let alone if you are wearing high heels. But Brussels has lots to offer if we manage to raise our eyes. The houses, all over, have their own 1900 style: narrow and tall, red bricks on the façade and... "shoe cleaners" (decrottoir - dung remover).

If you have ever paid attention to the lower side of the houses, you surely haven't missed out on seeing some "holes", most of them with metal "chains". Have you ever asked yourself, "what's this?" Well... put yourself back to the beginning of the 1900s... roads were not paved, and there were no cars but horses taking people around. Belgium is a country where it rains quite often... it's easy to think that when walking around, your shoes would get very dirty, full of mud... would you enter your house with muddy shoes? Not really... so here is the invention... shoe cleaners right next to the front door!

In Brussels there are hundreds of different types... from now on, don't only look at the pavement, but also at the buildings!

(the one pictured is in Rue d'Irlande 52, Sint Gilles)

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Brussels Spotter Renata

About me: I was born and raised in Torino, in the North of Italy. Studying engineering allowed me to live in many different countries. When I came to the point where I needed to look for a job I decided I wanted to have another experience abroad. In 2003 the job offer came from Brussels, for a big multinational company. I wasn’t that excited, didn’t know Brussels very well, and I always thought it was a grey and boring city. But I moved anyway and less than 6 months later this city had already changed my opinion and I have now declared it my hometown. I’ve even bought an apartment here n...

About this spot

Rue d'Irlande 52

€

free

Nov 17, 2025

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