Canal It Up
We aim for clean plastic-free waterways in Brussels where nature has its place
IS THERE A PROBLEM?
Yes. The canal and the river Senne in Brussels have 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 we organize kayaking trips on the canal for new volunteers to fish trash our of the water.
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, PLINTHS ALONG THE CANAL AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM
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. We also advocate the introduction of a deposit on cans and plastic bottles and propose installing plinths that would prevent waste from ending up in 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 develop creative solutions to recycle the trash collected in the canal.
SIGN THE PETITION FOR THE FIRST SMOKE FREE PARK IN BRUSSELS
- LIVE OVERFLOW UPDATE
Retrieving data...
Sewage overflows are one of the main reasons why the water quality of Brussels waterways isn’t good. Several times per month when it rains polluted sewage water flows into the Senne and the canal. Here you can see a live overflow update and the number of overflows of last month.
NUMBER OF OVERFLOWS LAST MONTH
Sainctelette: October 2023
SEWAGE DISCHARGE METER
Sainctelette: Overflow events in February 2023
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.
News & events
Who else in Belgium strives for clean and green waterways?
Plinths along the canal to stop the trash
25 km of kayaking to the end of the river Senne
European Commissioner Sinkevicius cleans up trash from canal on World Cleanup Day
Colruyt finds itself on the wrong side of this debate…
Colruyt biggest polluter of the Brussels Canal
Our remarks to the Brussels Water Management Plan 2022-2027
Relive the conference “Where does the rain go?”
Intern alert – Canal It Up is looking for an intern!
Henry the cormorant – Art as a symbol for plastic in the bellies of animals
1 billion euro in investments over 10 years, but how much for the canal itself?
From Halle to Brussels by kayak – an invisible river in open air
Our Let’s Mingle summer action in the spotlight
A second underground ride on the Senne!
News of the islands – a few months later
Summer action – Let’s mingle
Deposit petition complete – we have 15.000 signatures!
A very special underground kayak trip on the Senne!
Hundreds of dead fish in the canal
Our Hold your Pee & Poo campaign in the media
The green islands pilot project has been launched!
First can with a Deposit introduced in Brussels!
RTBF – Alors on change in our kayaks!
Just a cool video report by RTBF Vews
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 the floating trash in the 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?
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to stay informed about our future actions and our progress towards clean and green waterways
Plastic fishing in Brussels canal is just your thing?
Subscribe to our newsletter
to stay informed about our future actions and our progress towards clean and green waterways