05 March 2026
WAT Breaks Ground: Brussels' Former Power Plant to Become Europe's New Startup Hub
Brussels, 2026
Construction has officially started at WAT, a landmark entrepreneurship campus set to open in the heart of Brussels' Ixelles district. Housed in a historic 10,000 m² electrical plant, WAT is poised to become one of Europe's most ambitious incubators. A place where the next generation of European startups will be built.
A Year in the Making
After more than a year of preparation, the project has reached a decisive milestone. The former power plant - long dormant in one of Brussels' most vibrant student neighbourhoods -will be transformed into a living, working ecosystem for entrepreneurs, innovators, and the broader technology community. Within two years, WAT is expected to welcome several hundred entrepreneurs, providing the infrastructure, community, and support they need to build the European companies of tomorrow.
Built for Europe's Defining Challenges
The timing is deliberate. WAT was conceived at a moment when Europe faces an urgent need to strengthen its digital sovereignty, uphold its democratic values, address the climate crisis, and navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. Europe has the talent, the values, and the ambition. WAT.BXL is designed to provide the infrastructure to match.
More Than a Coworking Space
WAT.BXL was not designed exclusively for founders. From the outset, the project has been conceived as a gathering place for the entire technology community. For startups and scale-ups, for corporates and investors, associations and public institutions, all under one roof.
The campus will offer workspaces and meeting facilities, alongside a curated programme of events, talks, and debates. Creative spaces will encourage cross-pollination of ideas. A café and restaurant will provide a social anchor. A gym, open to all members, reflects the project's commitment to wellbeing alongside productivity. The ambition is to build a place that brings people together rather than sets them apart.
A Coalition of Partners
The project has been made possible by a broad coalition of public and private partners. Backing comes from Belfius Bank, finance&invest.brussels, the Brussels-Capital Region, and the Commune of Ixelles. Architectural design is led by Twyce Architects and Études Architecture & Design. The WAT team is led by Thibaud Elziere, alongside Louis Langendries and Charlotte Keup.
Laying the Foundations of a European Ecosystem
For the founders of WAT, today's groundbreaking is more than a construction milestone. It is the beginning of something larger. WAT is not just laying the first brick. It is laying the foundations of a European ecosystem.
WAT is expected to open its doors in September 2027.
