Canal It Up
We aim for a clean plastic-free canal in Brussels where nature has its place
IS THERE A PROBLEM?
Yes. The canal at the heart of Brussels has to face a constant stream of garbage, a lack of nature and a bad water quality.
HOW DO WE WANT TO INTERVENE?
RAISING AWARENESS
Every week with new volunteers we go fishing for trash in the canal with our kayaks.
GREENING THE CANAL
We propose to give nature its place back in the canal to transform it into a green and pleasant environment for people and animals through the installation of vegetalised islands.
INSTALLING A TRASH BARRIER
We are currently working on the installation of a permanent structure, to be placed close to the Molenbeek lock, to stop the trash and take it out of the water.
IMPROVING WATER QUALITY
Tackling the problem of the sewage overflows would allow to drasically improve the water quality of the canal.
RECYCLING
We are exploring creative solutions to recycle the trash collected in the canal.
send us your signatures
Fishing trash out of the canal is a good thing. Preventing it from getting there in the first place is even better. That is why we have launched a paper petition to obtain a hearing at the parliament and ask for the introduction of a deposit system and for the promotion of more reusable packaging. Therefore we need to collect 15.000 signatures.
Sign the petition, scan it or take a picture, and send it to info@canalitup.org or by old-fashioned mail to Leopold II laan 23, 1080 Brussel mentioning “Deposithon”. This needs to be on paper because the Flemisch Parliament doesn’t provide an online platform…
Number of signatures collected
15.000

SEWAGE DISCHARGE METER
Sainctelette: Overflow events in APRIL '22
Every month we count the number of days the Sainctelette and Maelbeek overflows are activated and publish the results here. These numbers are to be compared to the current Flemish standard according to which an overflow can only function 7 days per year. The overflows in Brussels exceed this annual amount almost every single month. Three overflows in particular are responsible for 75% of the discharged volume into the Senne and the canal.

Hold your pee & poo
When it rains
We have studied the problem thoroughly and we’ve come to the conclusion that there is only one solution to prevent pollution…
We’ll need every Brusselaar on board!

Hold your
pee & poo
When it rains
We have studied the problem thoroughly and we’ve come to the conclusion that there is only one solution to prevent pollution…
We’ll need every Brusselaar on board!
News & events
The green islands pilot project has been launched!
First can with a Deposit introduced in Brussels!
RTBF – Alors on change in our kayaks!
World Cleanup Day – Join us !
Deposithon – our big summer action from July until September
Video: sewage water flows directly into Brussels canal
BX1 joins us in August
The Bulletin & the Deposithon
BRUZZ – Jouw vraag: what does the canal look like under water
BRUZZ talks about the Deposithon
RTL announces launch of the Deposithon
Reizen Waes crew in our kayaks for episode about Brussels!
We are back on the water! Join us!
Press article about our Open letter to the minister of Environnement
SAY NO TO PLASTIC, did you already try to?
Video report: Canal It Up publishes every month the number of sewage overflows
Looking for a nice activity to explore your own city?
Jommeke and Bruzz at World Cleanup Day 2020
World Cleanup Day – September 20
Canal It Up at Bx1 studio
Great news! Our cool summer activity is prolonged in September
Article in the newspaper Het Nieuwsblad
Canal it up presentation to local politicians
Spotted by Flair!
We’re in Paris Match!
Bx1 presents Canal It Up and its goals
We love Brussels talks about us
Canal it up in Het Laatste Nieuws
Staycation report by Bruzz
Green Islands to upgrade the canal landscape
Green Mobile Barrier to stop floating trash in Brussels canal
In the spotlight of the VRT
EVENT 5th of July – Brussels Canal Cleanup
Bring green to the city
Campagne anti-déchêts au tour du canal á Bruxelles
Cost of plastic pollution in Belgium
Diatom analysis of the water quality of Brussels canal
Karrewiet paid us a visite
Bruzz Shoot
The New kids on the block
Plastic fishing in Brussels canal is just your thing?
Subscribe to our newsletter
to stay informed about our future actions and our progress towards a cleaner and greener canal