Here stands a stark white bicycle. It is a silent memorial to Lieve Polet. This ghost bike marks the spot where her life tragically ended. It serves as a poignant reminder of cyclist vulnerability.
Lieve Polet was no ordinary person. She was the founder of the well-known eatery Het Warm Water in the heart of Marolles. For twenty years, she coordinated the community center of Saint-Josse-ten-Node. Lieve was born in Oudenaarde in June 1946. Soon after, she moved to Neder-Over-Heembeek.
Tragically, Lieve Polet died after a fatal collision with a truck. Those who knew her were shocked. They said she had been cycling all her life. It seemed unbelievable that such a stupid accident could take her life. Frans Vekemansstraat will forever be associated with her. It is where her life started and ended. She was on her way to run an errand by bicycle.
Lieve Polet’s early life was rooted in strong values. Her parents were teachers in a Catholic family. They were do-gooders and pioneers. Her mother ran an Oxfam shop in the 1970s. Lieve’s sister Mia later founded the natural store Den Teepot.
Lieve studied sociology in Leuven. She later had two daughters, Elke and Tieneke. After her divorce, she became coordinator of the community center Ten Noey. She remained there for two decades. It wasn’t until her children went to university that she embarked on a new career path.
Lieve Polet’s passion for Brussels and healthy food merged in her cafe Het Warm Water. Today, a collective runs it offering organic meals. It began as a breakfast and lunch cafe where everything was homemade. This included biscuits, muesli, pancakes and cheesecake. Her dream was to bring German breakfast cafes to Brussels. The concept evolved. It incorporated many Brussels dishes. The breakfast formulas were named after Brussels water sources. Evening meals were added later.
Lieve was a vegetarian. Yet, she started making meat dishes. Even the typical “chicken cap” ended up on the menu. Lieve also supported the Brussels dialect. The cabaret ‘t Crejateef Complot Zonner Complekse found a home in Het Warm Water.
Lieve insisted that Dutch be spoken. Her children grew up attending Dutch-language theatres and cultural centers. For eighteen years, Lieve ran Het Warm Water. It was hard work. She did everything herself. It was also a life filled with social connections. Her work in Het Warm Water served the Flemish people in Brussels. Her daughters noted that the community missed her. She was an inspiration to many.
After retiring at sixty-five, she co-founded the Repair Café in Schaerbeek. She was planning to move to Ostend. She wanted to join a cohousing community. The accident on the corner of Peter Benoitplein and Frans Vekemansstraat shocked her children. She was ready to start a new chapter. She had survived Covid and heart surgery. It seemed unfair that a cycling accident could end her life.
This ghost bike serves as a silent plea. It urges drivers to be more careful. It reminds us of the importance of cyclist safety. Lieve Polet’s legacy lives on. It lives on through her contributions. It lives on in the hearts of those who knew her. This memorial ensures she will not be forgotten.