2023-12-17 13:06:00
Will the Pétillon metro station in Etterbeek change its name? This is what citizens are demanding. At the end of October, they launched a petition, having already reached 500 signatures. The petition, as mentioned by La Capitale, takes up a request addressed to the Brussels Region in order to rename the station.
For what reasons ? The soldier Arthur Pétillon (1855-1909) was one of the key players in the colonization of the Congo, under the orders of King Leopold II. His name comes up regularly alongside those of commanders Lothaire and Ponthier, Baron Dhanis, generals Henry, Fivé, Jacques, other figures of colonization, honored in Etterbeek by the names of arteries.
For his achievements, Pétillon has also received several distinctions (Order of Leopold, Royal Order of the Lion and Star of Service, etc.). In 1891, it was Pétillon who designed the military fort of Boma, political capital of the Congo Free State (then of the Belgian Congo upon the death of Leopold II in 1909). On his return to Belgium, he founded the colonial house of Watermael-Boitsfort.
A request consistent with the Region’s objectives
Given Pétillon’s career, does the Brussels Region agree with the petitioners’ request? “It is entirely understandable that citizens question the advisability of maintaining this name, given that Major Pétillon was a key player in the colonization of the Congo under the orders of Léopold II“, reacted this week in committee of the Brussels Parliament the Minister of Public Transport Elke Van den Brandt (Groen).
“The request made is legitimate and consistent with the Region’s objectives in this area. It therefore deserves to be taken seriously and studied, which we are going to do.”she responded to a question from MP Ingrid Parmentier (Ecolo).
We remind you: if the Region is part of a logic of feminization of street names and STIB stops, since the Black Lives Matter movement, Brussels is also part of a process of decolonization of public space. “The decolonization of public space is an objective in its own right that the Region has set for itself in the Brussels plan to combat racism 2023-2026 and in the action plan ‘Towards the decolonization of public space in the Brussels-Capital Region’both adopted by the government.“
An impact on travelers’ landmarks
But is it that easy to forget the name Pétillon, when it is linked to a metro station on one of the busiest lines in the Region?
The minister admits: “Changing the name of a metro station requires more adaptation than changing that of a bus or tram stop“, as was the case recently with the stops Rosa Parks, Marguerite Duras and Audrey Hepburn.
“The metro being the backbone of Brussels public transport, it structures the network and its stations connect with a large number of surface stops. Changing the name of a station therefore has an impact on travelers’ points of reference, but also leads to cascading changes across the entire network. The planning data must be modified, as well as the operating and passenger information scenarios in the event of a disruption, the dynamic displays of all the stations on the lines concerned, the signage and the visual and audio announcements of all the metro trains, information at connecting surface stops, all network maps, digital applications and the website. This of course has a cost and these elements are therefore very carefully examined.“
What regarding rue Pétillon?
In short, it’s not for now. Especially since in the event of a modification, what name should be displayed instead of Pétillon? The initiators of the petition propose that of Lucie Spède, Etterbeek poet, died in 2010. Except that, to be consistent, if the Region and STIB rename the station Pétillon, it is also necessary to rename rue Pétillon, right next to it. Also in Lucie Spède?
“Other factors must be taken into account such as the geographical location of the stop“, recalls Minister Van den Brandt. “It would not make much sense to change a stop name linked to a street or a square without changing the name of this street or square itself. This is why it is also necessary to involve the municipality (Editor’s note: Etterbeek) to the process.“
Etterbeek is currently carrying out work around the numerous colonial symbols present on its territory.
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