De Lijn bus stop near Brussels Airport renamed in memorial of terror attack

At the proposal of a Brussels Airport Company staff member, who was deeply affected by the attacks on 22 March 2016, De Lijn bus operator has renamed the “Zaventem loodsen” bus stop as “Memorial Garden”.

The bus stop is located at the entrance to Brussels Airport, adjacent to the place where, in honour of the victims of the 22 March terrorist attacks, a publicly accessible commemorative garden was opened, named “Memorial Garden”.

“The attacks on our airport two years ago have deeply affected us and will mark our lives forever. The Memorial Garden at the entrance to the airport is important as a lasting reminder, offering a place for commemoration and contemplation open to all. To make this special place even more recognisable for visitors, one of our staff, who is personally very affected by the events, suggested renaming the nearby De Lijn bus stop ‘Memorial Garden’. De Lijn immediately welcomed the idea and, in the first subsequent change to the timetable, gave it this new name”, says CEO Arnaud Feist of Brussels Airport Company.

“In this way, De Lijn wishes, together with Brussels Airport, to commemorate the victims in a permanent way”, says the director of De Lijn Vlaams-Brabant Johan Van Looy. “It is now clear for our passengers on routes 820 and 821 that this stop is adjacent to the memorial area.” The Memorial Garden is a promenade around the sculpture “Flight in mind” by the late Olivier Strebelle. The sculpture was also damaged during the attacks and is a permanent reminder and symbolic support for everybody affected by the attacks.