Terres Neuves

Terres Neuves

Terres Neuves opened in May 1987 in a disused shoe factory on the Rue Terre-Neuve, in the centre of Brussels, and calls itself the first commercial climbing gym in the world. Belgium's first climbing competition was held here in January 1988. It's a rope-climbing hall: the walls are 12 metres high, with up to 18 metres of climbing on the longest lines, and there are overhangs, a 7-metre roof, slabs and an artificial crag. Routes are reset continually, so none stays up for more than three months. In 2018 the hall banned powdered chalk, so only liquid chalk is allowed.

There's also a pan and campus board area, a stretching area, a bar in the hall and indoor bike parking. The hall is 150 metres from the Place Rouppe and close to Anneessens metro station.

Climbing safely

You climb in pairs, one climbing and one belaying, and visitors who don't know the basic safety techniques are sent on a course, booked by appointment. There's an express safety introduction for two people, three-session beginners' and progression cycles on Saturdays, an evening improvement course and private lessons. Children's classes and holiday courses start from the age of 4, and the hall runs outdoor days and courses on the cliffs at Freyr. It's also home to Évasions verticales, a club of the Club Alpin Belge.