You can’t miss them! They overlook the Grand-Place directly and are part of the backdrop that everyone photographs as soon as they arrive in the heart of Brussels. Yet behind the facades of Den Wolf, Den Horen, and Den Vos, there’s much more going on than one might think. These three historic buildings, at numbers 5, 6, and 7, now house a large office complex. And this complex could soon get a makeover.
Behind the facades, 7,600 m² to be reimagined
The owner is the Dutch real estate group Prowinko. And the company has just submitted a new proposal for this complex, which stretches from the Grand-Place to Rue du Midi. In total, no less than 7,600 m² of office space and underground parking are involved.
The idea? To redesign the interior spaces, which are now considered outdated, reorganize them, and bring in more natural light. Renovations are also planned for the roofs and certain parts of the building. The protected historic elements, of course, will have to be preserved.
In short, while the famous facades will continue to serve as part of Brussels’ cityscape, it’s what lies behind them that could change!
What if we were to find some new hotspots there soon?
This is probably the most intriguing part of the project. Of the existing 7,600 m², 1,171 m² of office space could be repurposed. Additionally, approximately 1,000 m² of underground parking could also be converted into retail space. The project specifically calls for two retail units and a space intended for a restaurant or hotel.
But hold on before you start imagining your next dinner with a view of the Grand-Place: nothing has been decided yet. The project is currently under public review until October 15, 2026. A consultation committee is then scheduled to review the proposal on October 27.
A luxury hotel had already been considered
This isn’t the first time Prowinko has envisioned a new life for these buildings. After acquiring the former CBC complex in 2018, the group explored a planforan 80-roomluxury hotel. Another scenario called for keeping the space as office space.
The new proposal thus raises the question once again… What will ultimately become of these buildings that thousands of visitors admire every day without ever seeing what goes on behind their facades? For now, the answer remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the next time you walk across the Grand-Place, take a closer look at numbers 5, 6, and 7.
