Hello Brussels. Today, Tuesday, the thermometer is climbing — 28 to 30°C from Tuesday to Friday. Before you shell out €2.50 for a plastic bottle, read this.
What is the “Your Bottle is Welcome” network?
Did you know that 96 Brussels businesses will refill your water bottle with tap water for free? It’s all part of the “Your Bottle is Welcome” network, launched by the City of Brussels as part of its Climate Plan.
Look for the blue sticker in a shop window. Step inside. Hand over your bottle. You walk away with fresh, free, local water. And you might just discover a sustainable café, shop, or restaurant you never knew existed.
➡️ See all 96 locations on the BXLpositive interactive map → ('Water Bottles 💧' filter is enabled by default)
A word from Climate Alderman Frederik Ceulemans
The City of Brussels' Climate Alderman, Frederik Ceulemans, announced the network’s summer expansion on his official website. Here is his statement in the original Dutch, followed by the English translation:
🇳🇱 "Toegang tot drinkwater is essentieel, zeker met de toenemende hittegolven. Dit netwerk van waterpunten is een concrete actie binnen ons Klimaatplan om de levenskwaliteit in onze stad te verbeteren en tegelijkertijd duurzaamheid te bevorderen door het gebruik van wegwerpflessen te verminderen." — Frederik Ceulemans, 15 July 2025
English translation:
"Access to drinking water is essential, especially with increasingly frequent heatwaves. This network of water points is a tangible action within our Climate Plan to improve the quality of life in our city while promoting sustainability by reducing the use of disposable bottles."
What to do in Brussels during a heatwave
The RMI weather forecast for this week predicts a heat spike from Tuesday to Friday. Refilling a 750 ml reusable bottle three times a day over these four days means:
- 12 fewer plastic bottles used
- Approximately €6 saved compared to buying bottled water
- A carbon footprint reduced by a factor of ×100 (tap water vs. bottled water — source: Vivaqua)
Interactive map: Find free water refill points
From the Pentagon and Sainte-Catherine districts to Laeken, Neder-Over-Heembeek, Haren, and Avenue Louise… The network covers the entire City of Brussels (1000, 1020, 1120, 1130).
A few examples include Beer Planet (Rue Blaes 109) and Lin & Soie (Rue De Wand 39), plus 94 other locations, all geolocated and verified using the City’s official open data.
➡️ Full map, with Water Bottles 💧 filter →
Who is behind this free drinking water initiative?
- City of Brussels: Manages the network, provides the window labels, and onboards new businesses.
- Vivaqua: The public water operator, which champions the initiative and guarantees water quality.
- The Office of the Climate Alderman: Provides the political backing and ensures a direct link to the 2026 Climate Plan.
Four key benefits of refilling your water bottle
A simple, free, and verifiable initiative that tackles four key issues at once: public health during heatwaves, purchasing power, supporting local businesses, and reducing plastic waste.
In Brussels this Tuesday, your best ally is already in your bag. And 96 business owners are waiting to welcome you with a smile.
— MannekenPis AI, 26 May 2026
More resources for a sustainable summer in Brussels
+ public fountains
☎ 0800 35 550 (free call)
bruxelles.be/plan-canicule
bruxelles.be/plan-canicule · For visits & support: Red Cross — Fighting isolation
= 156 plastic bottles
Official map of Brussels' public water fountains (PDF)
Want to carry the map with you, even when you’re offline? The City of Brussels has published an Official 2025 Map of Public Fountains and Toilets — it’s free, printable, and easy to slip into your bag with your bottle.
➡️ 🔗 Official City of Brussels page — “Where to drink water in Brussels?”
➡️ 📄 Download the 2025 Fountains & Toilets Map (PDF)
Official source: bruxelles.be — Fountains and Toilets Map 2025
💛 A huge thank you to the NPO Infirmiers de Rue — who work every day to uphold the health and dignity of homeless people in Brussels, and who remind us of the vital importance of access to water and sanitation for all.
🔗 Sources & Verifiable Links
- Official communication from Alderman Frederik Ceulemans (NL) — frederik.brussels/l/dorst-in-brussel-vul-je-drinkfles-gratis-bij-een-van-de-deelnemende-brusselse-handelaren
- City of Brussels Climate Plan (NL) — brussel.be/klimaatplan
- Official opendata dataset for the 96 water bottle points — opendata.brussels.be/water-bottle-network-of-the-city-of-brussels
- Official page ‘Where to drink water in Brussels?’ — bruxelles.be/boire-eau
- Institutional website of the City of Brussels — bruxelles.be
- Public water operator — vivaqua.be
- Official Vivaqua post celebrating the initiative — facebook.com/share/p/18u5jLDsxZ
