Brussels Airport has discovered that the best way to maintain grassland might not involve gas-powered equipment at all. Every summer since 2019, roughly 200 sheep arrive to do what they do best: eat. Over two weeks in 2024 alone, they munched through 18,500 square metres of land, equivalent to nearly three football pitches. This woolly workforce handles grass management in ways that traditional mowing never could, all while supporting long-term biodiversity across the airport grounds.
The sheep operate strictly outside the secured tarmac area, kept well away from aircraft operations and flight paths. Think of them as nature's most adorable security protocol. This approach has become emblematic of how the airport approaches environmental responsibility, moving beyond surface-level gestures toward genuine ecosystem thinking.
Real money for real community ideas
Beyond woolly landscaping, Brussels Airport backs its green ambitions with substantial funding. The Brussels Airport Fund, now in its fourth year of operation, invites organizations across the region to pitch sustainability and community projects. Winners receive grants up to 10,000 euros each, no strings attached beyond one requirement: the project must be something separate from whatever the organization normally does.
Since launching in 2023 and managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, the fund has already supported 42 projects totaling 362,000 euros. Schools, sports clubs, neighborhood associations, NGOs, and youth groups all qualify. Your local sports club could propose a biodiversity initiative. A school might design a community garden or develop a circular economy programme with students and residents. The scope is genuinely broad.
Applications for 2027 close on 16 September 2026. An independent jury will evaluate submissions and announce winners by early 2027. Projects need to demonstrate positive impact in areas like nature conservation, green mobility, social cohesion, energy efficiency, or circular economy principles. They're looking for ideas that actually matter to the neighborhood.
What winning looks like on the ground
Nido in Haren, an inclusive care garden, used its grant to install mobile relaxation areas and build a terrace where people with reduced mobility could enjoy coffee breaks during vegetable gardening workshops. The Borrekensveld neighbourhood park in Grimbergen, which opened in 2025, completely transformed a shared space into an accessible green area for residents of all ages. These aren't theoretical wins. They're places where community life actually improved because someone submitted an application.
Money is flowing because Brussels Airport is thriving
Brussels Airport generated 828 million euros in revenue during 2025, a 6 percent jump from the previous year. That record performance enables the airport to commit 302 million euros toward infrastructure improvements, with major emphasis on sustainability initiatives. The fund represents one piece of a much larger investment strategy ensuring the airport remains viable and responsible for decades ahead.
The airport's approach reflects a broader shift in how major transport hubs see their role in local communities. Rather than simply operate flights and collect fees, airports increasingly recognize they anchor entire ecosystems. Brussels Airport chose to actively shape that ecosystem toward environmental health and social benefit. Whether through sheep grazing across the grounds or funding community projects, the commitment extends beyond rhetoric.
If you live near Brussels or know organizations in the region working on environmental or social initiatives, the application window opens soon. The airport is genuinely seeking fresh ideas and backing them with real resources. That's worth knowing, whether you're a frequent flyer passing through or someone with a local project waiting for the right moment to launch.
