Brussels — capital of Belgium

The City of Brussels is the largest municipality and historical centre of the Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the capital of the French Community of Belgium, the Flemish Region (from which it is separate), and Belgium. The City of Brussels is also the administrative centre of the European Union, as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions in its European Quarter. As of 1 January 2024, the City of Brussels had a population of 196,828 inhabitants. The total area is 33.09 km². Like all municipalities in Brussels, it is officially bilingual (French–Dutch). History Early history The history of Brussels is closely linked to that of Western Europe. Traces of human settlement go back to the Stone Age, with vestiges and place-names related to the civilisation of megaliths, dolmens and standing stones (Plattesteen near the Grand-Place and Tomberg in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, for example). During late antiquity, the region was home to Roman occupation. Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire, it was incorporated into the Frankish Empire. According to local legend, the settlement that later became Brussels originated when Saint Gaugericus constructed a chapel on an island in the river Senne around 580. Historians usually date the official founding of Brussels to around 979, when Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine, transferred the relics of the martyr Saint Gudula from Moorsel to Saint Gaugericus’ chapel. After Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor, appointed Charles Duke of Lower Lotharingia in 977, Charles ordered the construction of the city’s first permanent fortification on that same island. Middle Ages Brussels became a commercial centre specialised in the textile trade. The town grew quite rapidly and extended towards the upper town, where there was a reduced risk of floods. As the town grew to a population of around 30,000, the surrounding marshes were drained to allow for further expansion. The city grew significantly in the early 13th century, when the first walls of Brussels appeared. Around this time, work began on what is now the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula (1225), replacing an older Romanesque church. To let the city expand, a second set of walls was erected between 1356 and 1383. Early modern In the 16th and 17th centuries, Brussels was a centre for the lace industry. In addition, Brussels tapestry hung on the walls of castles throughout Europe. During the Nine Years’ War, in 1695, King Louis XIV of France sent troops to bombard Brussels with artillery. Together with the resulting fire, it was the most destructive event in the entire history of Brussels. The Grand-Place was destroyed, along with 4,000 buildings—a third of all the buildings in the city. The reconstruction of the city centre profoundly changed its appearance and left numerous traces still visible today. Following the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, Spanish sovereignty over the Southern Netherlands was transferred to the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg. This event started the era of the Austrian Netherlands. France captured Brussels in 1746, during the War of the Austrian Succession. However, three years later, Brussels returned to Austrian control. It remained with Austria until 1795, when France annexed the Southern Netherlands. The city then became the chef-lieu of the department of the Dyle. The French rule ended in 1815, with the defeat of Napoleon on the battlefield of Waterloo, located south of today’s Brussels-Capital Region. With the Congress of Vienna, the Southern Netherlands joined the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, under King William I of Orange. The former Dyle department became the province of South Brabant, with Brussels as its capital. Late modern In 1830, the Belgian Revolution began in Brussels, after a performance of Auber’s opera La Muette de Portici at the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie. The city became the capital and seat of government of the new nation. South Brabant was renamed simply Brabant, with Brussels as its administrative centre. On 21 July 1831, Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians, ascended the throne, undertaking the destruction of the city walls and the construction of many buildings. Following independence, Brussels underwent many more changes. The Industrial Revolution and the opening of the Brussels–Charleroi Canal in 1832 brought prosperity to the city through commerce and manufacturing. The Free University of Brussels dates from 1834 and Saint-Louis University from 1858. During the 19th century, the population of Brussels grew considerably (from about 80,000 to more than 625,000). The Senne had become a serious health hazard, and from 1867 to 1871, its entire course through the urban area was completely covered over. Brussels was one of the major European centres of the Art Nouveau style in the 1890s and early 1900s. The architects Victor Horta, Paul Hankar, and Henry van de Velde, were known for their designs. 20th century During the 20th century, the city hosted various fairs and conferences, including the Solvay Conference on Physics and on Chemistry, and three world’s fairs: the Brussels International Exposition of 1910, the Brussels International Exposition of 1935 and the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair (Expo 58). During World War I, Brussels was an occupied city. In November 1918, after the German Revolution had broken out, Brussels was embroiled in street battles between revolutionary soldiers who wanted to end the occupation and their imperialist counterparts. During World War II, German forces once again occupied Brussels. While the city again escaped major damage, a deadly bombing took place on 7 September 1943. The American air force carried it out after attempting to target the SABCA facilities in Haren, but accidentally struck an area in Ixelles, killing 282 civilians. The British Guards Armoured Division liberated the city on 3 September 1944. After World War II, Brussels underwent extensive modernisation. The construction of the North–South connection, linking the main railway stations in the city, was completed in 1952. The first premetro (underground tram) service began operation in 1969, and the first Metro line opened in 1976. From the early 1960s onward, Brussels developed as the de facto capital of what later became the European Union (EU), and had many modern office complexes. Contemporary The Brussels-Capital Region was formed on 18 June 1989, after a constitutional reform in 1988. It is one of the three federal regions of Belgium, along with Flanders and Wallonia, and has bilingual status. On 22 March 2016, ISIL carried out three coordinated nail bombings in Brussels—two at Brussels Airport in Zaventem and one at Maalbeek/Maelbeek metro station—killing 32 victims and three suicide bombers and injuring 330 people. The attacks constituted the deadliest act of terrorism in Belgium. Attractions Grand-Place The Grand-Place or Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels. Opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels surround it, along with two larger edifices: the city’s Flamboyant Town Hall and the neo-Gothic King’s House, which houses the Brussels City Museum. The square measures 68 by 110 metres and consists entirely of paved surfaces. Cinquantenaire The Parc du Cinquantenaire (or Jubelpark) is a large urban public park of 30 ha (74 acres) in the easternmost part of the European Quarter. King Leopold II commissioned the U-shaped complex that dominate the park for the 1880 National Exhibition and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Belgian Revolution. In 1905, builders erected the centrepiece memorial arch, known as the Cinquantenaire Arch. The surrounding 30 ha park esplanade was full of picturesque gardens, ponds and waterfalls. It housed several trade fairs, exhibitions and festivals at the beginning of the 20th century. The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History has been the sole tenant of the northern half of the complex since 1880. The southern half has been occupied by the Art & History Museum, and Autoworld automobile museum. The Temple of Human Passions by Victor Horta, a remainder from 1896, the Monument to the Belgian Pioneers in Congo from 1921, and the Great Mosque of Brussels from 1978, are located in the north-western corner of the park. Atomium The Atomium is a landmark modernist building, originally constructed as the centrepiece of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair (Expo 58). Designed by the engineer André Waterkeyn and the architects André and Jean Polak as a tribute to scientific progress, as well as to symbolise Belgian engineering skills at the time, it is located on the Heysel/Heizel Plateau in Laeken (northern part of the City of Brussels), where the exhibition took place. Parlamentarium The Parlamentarium is the European Parliament’s visitor centre, located in the Espace Léopold complex in Brussels. Officially opened on 14 October 2011 by the Parliament’s then-president, Jerzy Buzek, it hosts a permanent exhibition featuring numerous multimedia components that explain the workings of the European Parliament and other EU institutions. Situated on the Parliament’s esplanade, the Parlamentarium is noted as the largest parliamentary visitor centre in Europe and ranks second worldwide in size. Pentagon The Pentagon forms the historical city centre within the contours of the Small Ring inner ring road. The Small Ring occupies the site of the second walls of Brussels, which builders constructed in the 16th century. As in most European cities, urban planners replaced these walls with large boulevards at the end of the 19th century. The Pentagon, within the Small Ring, covers 4.61 km² and has a more or less pentagonal or heart-shaped form, hence its name. Royal Palace of Brussels The Royal Palace of Brussels is the official palace of the King and Queen of the Belgians. However, it is not a royal residence. The building dates from the end of the 18th century. King Leopold II initiated the construction of the existing façade after 1900. Manneken Pis ‘Little Pissing Man’ is a landmark 55.5 cm bronze fountain sculpture, depicting a nude boy urinating into the fountain’s basin. Though records attest to its existence as early as the mid-15th century, the Brabantine sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder redesigned Manneken Pis and installed it in its present location in 1619. Since 1965, a replica has been displayed on site, with the original stored in the Brussels City Museum. Manneken Pis is one of the best-known symbols of Brussels and Belgium, inspiring several legends. The figure is regularly dressed up and its wardrobe consists of around one thousand different costumes. Mont des Arts Designed by the landscape architect René Pechère, The Hill of the Arts is a public garden. The Mont des Arts’s development began in the late 19th century as part of an urban renewal project initiated by King Leopold II to accommodate the city’s cultural institutions. Between 1956 and 1969, a major redesign was undertaken by the architects Maurice Houyoux and Jules Ghobert, resulting in the current layout. Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula The Cathedral of St. Michael and Saint Gudula, usually shortened to the Cathedral of St. Gudula, is a medieval Catholic cathedral. The Romanesque church’s construction began in the 11th century, replacing an earlier chapel. In the 16th century, the building had a new Gothic form. Musical Instruments Museum The Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) has over 8,000 instruments in its collection. Since 2000, the museum has occupied the former Old England department store, which Paul Saintenoy built in 1899 from girded steel and glass in the Art Nouveau style, as well as the adjoining 18th-century neoclassical building that Barnabé Guimard designed. Bourse Palace The Bourse Palace is a former stock exchange building. It was previously the seat of the Brussels Stock Exchange (BSE). Since 2023, its upper floors have housed the Belgian Beer World museum. Designed by the architect Léon-Pierre Suys, the building was erected from 1868 to 1873. Brussels Expo The Brussels Exhibition Centre, also known as Brussels Expo, is the primary event complex in Brussels, Belgium. Located on the Heysel Plateau in Laeken, the twelve halls hosted the largest national and international trade fairs, exhibitions and other events. With 115,000 m² of facility space, they constitute the largest exhibition space in the Benelux. They are also a witness to the evolution of construction techniques during the 20th century. La Monnaie The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie is an opera house. The current edifice is the third theatre on the site. The façade dates from 1818 with major alterations made in 1856 and 1986. The foyer and auditorium date from 1856. Royal Library of Belgium The Royal Library of Belgium, abbreviated KBR, is the national library of Belgium. The institution holds several historically important collections, such as the Library of the Dukes of Burgundy, and it serves as the depository for all books published in Belgium or abroad by Belgian authors. Palace of the Nation The Palace of the Nation is a neoclassical palace, housing the Belgian Federal Parliament. The Parliament consists of both the Chamber of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house), which convene in two separate hemicycles. The palace was built from 1778 to 1783 by the French architect Gilles-Barnabé Guimard and includes sculptures by Gilles-Lambert Godecharle. The building stands across the street from Brussels Park’s northern entrance. Palace of Laeken The Palace of Laeken is the official residence of the King and Queen of the Belgians and the Belgian royal family. The palace was built between 1782 and 1784 for the Governors of the Habsburg Netherlands. Its first name was Schonenberg. The Palace of Laeken should not be confused with the Royal Palace of Brussels, in central Brussels, which is the official palace (not residence) of the King of the Belgians. Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon The Church of Our Lady of the Sablon is a Catholic church from the 15th century. Its late Brabantine Gothic exterior and rich interior decoration, including two Baroque chapels, characterise it. The 19th century added its neo-Gothic decorative elements. Authorities designated the complex a historic monument in 1936. Royal Park Brussels Park is the largest urban public park. The city laid out it as its first public park between 1776 and 1783 in a neoclassical style. French architect Gilles-Barnabé Guimard and Austrian landscape architect Joachim Zinner designed it as part of an urban project that included the Place Royale. The area of the rectangular park is 13.1 ha. Egmont Palace The Egmont Palace, also sometimes known as the Arenberg Palace, is a neoclassical palace. It was originally built between 1548 and 1560 for Countess Françoise of Luxembourg and Count Lamoral of Egmont, though its appearance was heavily modified in the 18th and 19th centuries. Destroyed by fire in 1892, after which it was once again reconstructed. Nowadays, it is the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for receptions. National Basilica of the Sacred Heart The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic minor basilica and parish church. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, inspired by the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Paris. It is the 17th largest church by area in the world and the largest in Belgium. Located at the head of Elisabeth Park atop the Koekelberg Plateau, the church has the name of “Koekelberg Basilica”. Church of St. James on Coudenberg The Church of St. James on Coudenberg is a Catholic church on the historic Place Royale. The church is dedicated to Saint James, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Architects Gilles-Barnabé Guimard and Louis Montoyer designed the neoclassical church and built it from 1776 to 1787, replacing two neighbouring places of worship. Authorities designated the complex a historic monument in 1959. Halle Gate The Halle Gate is a former medieval city gate and the last vestige of the second walls of Brussels. Built in the 14th century, Henri Beyaert restored it in the 19th century in its current neo-Gothic style. It is now a museum of the medieval City of Brussels, part of the Royal Museums of Art and History (RMAH). Palace of Justice of Brussels The Law Courts of Brussels is the country’s most important court building. It is the seat of the judicial arrondissement of Brussels, as well as of several courts and tribunals, including the Court of Cassation (Belgian supreme court), the Court of Assizes (highest criminal court), the Court of Appeal of Brussels (appellate court), the Tribunal of First Instance of Brussels (general jurisdiction), and the Bar Association of Brussels. Black Tower The Tour Noire is a medieval tower in central Brussels. It forms one of the best-preserved remains of the first fortifications of Brussels, constructed at the start of the 13th century. It is notable as a single medieval tower surrounded by modern-day buildings. This unusual sight attracts many tourists. Great Synagogue of Europe The Great Synagogue of Europe, formerly known as the Great Synagogue of Brussels, serves as the main synagogue of Belgium. Authorities dedicated it as a focal point for European Jews in 2008. Architect Désiré De Keyser designed the building in 1875 in a Romanesque-Byzantine style. De Brouckèreplein The Place de Brouckère is a major square in central Brussels. Urban planners created it following the covering of the river Senne (1867–1871), and it replaced the Temple of the Augustinians, which demolition crews demolished in 1893. The square honours Charles de Brouckère, a former mayor of the City of Brussels and professor at the Free University of Brussels, who played an important political role during the Belgian Revolution of 1830. The square measures approximately 50 by 350 metres and consists almost entirely of paved surfaces. Transport Brussels has an extensive network of both private or public transportation means. Public transportation includes Brussels buses, trams, and metro, as well as a set of railway lines and railway stations served by public trains. There are also two airports: Brussels Airport and Brussels South Charleroi Airport. Boat transport is available via the Port of Brussels. Bicycle-sharing and car-sharing public systems are also available. Main information Region: Brussels-Capital Region Area: 33.09 km² (Brussels) / 161.38 km² (Brussels-Capital Region) Coordinates: 50°50’48.2″N 4°21’09.2″E Languages: French and Dutch Population: 198,314 (Brussels) / 1,255,795 (Brussels-Capital Region) Currency: Euro (EUR) Visa: Schengen Time zone: UTC+2 (Central European Summer Time, CEST) See also France travel guide Spain travel guide Catalonia travel guide Pyrenees travel guideThe post Brussels — capital of Belgium first appeared on All PYRENEES.