The announcement made a lot of noise. In Brussels, the famous nightclub “Le Fuse”, forced to close its doors. Following a neighbor’s complaint, the Region requires the Fuse to close at 2 a.m. and not exceed 95 decibels. A petition has been launched, it has already collected more than 30,000 signatures.
The Fuse can be compared to the temple of electronic music in Belgium. The place is recognized internationally. It is one of the 3 oldest electro clubs in the world. Since Thursday evening, the doors of the discotheque remain closed. In question, the complaint of a neighbor which leads the Brussels region to impose new measures.
“We received the immediate order not to exceed 95 dB and to close the doors at 2:00 a.m. Under these conditions, it is impossible for a nightclub to open. To give an example, when it there are hundreds of people in the room, we already exceed, without music, the 95 decibels”, explains the management.
The Fuse must reopen.
In the neighborhood, difficult for residents to pass without looking at the storefront and stopping for a few moments. François has lived here for 56 years. “I thought it’s weird, plus the Fuse is well known. The boss did everything to avoid getting bored. I am for (the reopening, editor’s note) because I went out there when I was young and we never had a problem“, he is surprised.
Chantal evokes the place with nostalgia. She knew the opening. “For me it was a monument. Now it’s over. The neighborhood will be even sadder. He’s already sad because there’s already not much and [le Fuse] still put a little atmosphere, it must be said,” he says.
On the networks, the biggest DJs react. The political world of Brussels too. Among them, the mayor of Brussels. “The Fuse must reopen. It is clearly a monument of nightlife in Brussels”says Philippe Close, mayor of Brussels-City.
Grandfather law in Berlin and London
30% of Fuse customers come from abroad. During large evenings, the hotels in the city center are taken over by revelers for several nights. To protect this type of emblematic places of nightlife, cities like Berlin or London apply the law of anteriority. “This law means that if you are going to live next to a club that has been open since 1994 and you arrive in 2015, you cannot shut down a club like this through a simple complaint”, explains Lorenzo Serra, co-founder of the Brussels by Night Federation.
The counter of a petition launched last night continues to climb. Against closure. More than 32,000 signatures in just a few hours. What to stay in the light until the decision of the appeal expected on January 25.