Molenbeek-Saint-Jean

Belgium

Also known as: Sint-Jans-Molenbeek

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

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Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, also known as Molenbeek, is a commune located west of Brussels, Belgium. It is situated in the province of Brabant, within the Flanders region. The population of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean is approximately 95,000.1

In the broader context of Brussels, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean is one of the communes that has seen significant immigration, particularly from Mediterranean countries and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, contributing to the city's ethnic and religious diversity.2

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Brussels
People
…notably in the communes of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean (Flemish: Sint-Jans-Molenbeek), Saint-Gilles (Sint-Gillis), Schaerbeek (Schaarbeek), and Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (Sint-Joost-ten-Node). All these immigrant groups brought increased ethnic and religious diversity to the historically Roman Catholic city. Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, for example, boasts an important Turkish community, and Schaerbeek has a relatively large number of mosques and
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…notably in the communes of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean (Flemish: Sint-Jans-Molenbeek), Saint-Gilles (Sint-Gillis), Schaerbeek (Schaarbeek), and Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (Sint-Joost-ten-Node). All these immigrant groups brought increased ethnic and religious diversity to the historically Roman Catholic city. Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, for example, boasts an important Turkish community, and Schaerbeek has a relatively large number of mosques and
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Brussels
The 21st century
…reforms, others, such as the Molenbeek district, continued to suffer from persistent high unemployment and limited social engagement. The fragmented nature of the capital area’s administrative structure—19 mayors oversaw six police departments, and language-based political patronage acted as a bottleneck on government services—meant that vulnerable residents often fell through the…
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…reforms, others, such as the Molenbeek district, continued to suffer from persistent high unemployment and limited social engagement. The fragmented nature of the capital area’s administrative structure—19 mayors oversaw six police departments, and language-based political patronage acted as a bottleneck on government services—meant that vulnerable residents often fell through the…
Read More