Inauguration of the renovated Lutgardis school in Ixelles

After a 3-year temporary move to the Kazerne van Etterbeek, the Lutgardis school comes home in the Emile de Bécolaan in Ixelles. In the meantime, the site has undergone a true metamorphosis: the school buildings were thoroughly renovated, a sports hall was built, the playground was redesigned and the sanitary facilities renewed.

On Wednesday 8 September, the inauguration took place in the presence of Minister Sven Gatz, who is responsible for education and school construction within the Flemish Community Commission.

Lutgardis primary school, located a stone’s throw from Place Flagey Ixelles, currently has 240 students. Director Els De Leener is grateful for the transformation that the site has undergone: “The school infrastructure is now adapted to all the needs and wishes we had in order to be able to work with quality. Both the classrooms and the other rooms (administrative rooms, refectory, sanitary facilities, care rooms, storage rooms, etc.) were completely renovated. Where in the past we were forced to exercise outside or in the classroom, we now also have a beautiful and spacious gym. In addition, the outdoor play areas were also overhauled. The entire site has therefore been given a new look, tailored to our students and educational needs.”

“The new building is the culmination of the zeal of generations of employees and administrators for a high-quality Dutch-language education in Ixelles.” adds Roger Haest, chairman of the school board. “However, it only became possible thanks to the financial support and the help of the VGC ”.

The renovation project was awarded for a total amount of EUR 3,814,526. The construction project is being realized with the financial support of the Flemish Community Commission (VGC) and the Flemish Community. Through the VGC’s BuitenSpel project, the school also applied for additional subsidies for the construction of the new playground.

Minister Sven Gatz is also enthusiastic about the beautiful renovation project: “With the Lutgardis School, we are once again delivering a beautiful calling card for Dutch-language education in Brussels. We can be proud of that. We have been trying for years to keep up with the increasing demand for more places in Dutch-speaking Brussels education as much as possible. That is why we will continue to make maximum efforts to invest in new school infrastructure.”