A coffee with our neighbour Leen from Zaventem

In our series Coffee with Neighbours, we have a chat with local residents who bring their neighbourhood to life. This time, we met with Leen, proud resident of Zaventem and owner of Bar Marcel. What began as a career change has grown into a welcoming meeting place where a friendly atmosphere and travel stories take centre stage.

Originally from Tervuren, Leen has been living in Zaventem for 25 years and really feels at home here. She lives above the bar with her daughter Manon.

Before taking the plunge into the hospitality industry, Leen spent no fewer than 23 years working in the car leasing sector. “After one summer holiday, I asked myself: is this really what I want to keep doing this for another 20 years? That was the moment I started to feel the itch.”

She decided to tackle it head-on and drew up a business plan. The key question was: Where would I like to go myself? “I missed having a place in Zaventem where you could quietly enjoy a cocktail with friends. Everything grew from that idea.”

The story behind “Bar Marcel”

When the premises on Vilvoordelaan became available, things went fast. “The ball started rolling and never stopped,” she laughs. Two years later, Bar Marcel opened its doors. “I haven’t regretted it for a single second. I always say: I had two hobbies: cars and enjoying a drink. I’ve turned both into my job.”

The name Bar Marcel wasn’t chosen by chance.

“Marcel was the father of my business partner Chris. A lovely man, a true Zaventem local,” explains Leen. “He passed away just before the opening. Marcel had a strong connection to the airport. He was a real Sabena man. His story lives on here. That makes the link with the airport very personal too.”

The proximity of Brussels Airport is undeniable.

“For us, that airport is a real godsend.” 

The planes flying overhead?
For her and her customers, it’s a spectacle: “When the first plane flies low overhead, you see people on the terrace looking up in surprise. By the time the next one comes along, they’ve already got their smartphones ready to film. It never loses its magic.”

Leen has, as she calls it, her own “private plane-spotting platform”: her roof terrace.

“Sometimes the planes seem so close you could almost touch them.”

Holiday vibe included

Bar Marcel is more than just a pub; it’s a place where stories come together. “We get all sorts of people coming through here: airport staff, travellers, locals… They all have a story to tell. We get people here who are setting off on a trip, have just returned, or have come to pick up someone. That makes for a unique atmosphere.”

Some customers even turn it into a ritual. “We have a couple who always come here for a drink before they set off on their travels. Then I ask them: ‘Where are you off to this time?’ Their holiday actually starts here. I think that’s brilliant.”

What if Bar Marcel were a destination?

Leen doesn’t need to think long:

“Ibiza! Not just for the partying, but also for the atmosphere. That ‘bohemian vibe’, cosy spots, music, people coming together… That’s what we try to bring here too.”

That’s exactly the feeling Leen wants to create: a touch of holiday in Zaventem.