Brussels has come a long way, but in recent years, the European capital has emerged as a sustainable city, more livable, resilient and healthier. Being Brussels’ first Green minister for Mobility, Public works and Road Safety (starting in 2019), Elke Van den Brandt sets high goals for road safety, clean air and a more just distribution of public space.
Minister Van den Brandt lowered the speed limit throughout the Brussels Region: as of 2021, 30 km/h is the norm in most of the streets. She also laid new cycle paths (40 km during the first Covid year), secured the most dangerous intersections and invests heavily in public transport. Several new STIB-lines are under construction. Under her impetus, the Brussels municipalities are creating Ghent-style circulation plans, allowing pedestrians, cyclists, buses and trams to get around safer and more fluently. In the first two years of her ministry, the number of cyclists has doubled.
Besides being the number two in the Brussels government, she also presides the College of the Flemish Community Commission (VGC).
Van den Brandt was a member of the Brussels and Flemish Parliament between 2009 and 2019. She was vice-president of the Flemish Green Party (Groen). She has a masters in Communication Science at the VUB and did research on challenges and obstacles in academic careers of female researchers. She has two children and lives in Ganshoren, Brussels.
