The Embellishment of Brussels under Leopold I and Leopold II

Abstract

After Belgian independence in 1830, Leopold I (1831–65) and Leopold II (1865–1909) wanted to transform Brussels into a a fully-fledged European capital, a city which would be worthy of the country and the king. The first king was less active in this field than his son, who had already shown a great interest in urban design and architecture during his time as crown prince. Partially financed by colonial money, Leopold II set up important projects like the Cinquantenaire, the Museum of Tervueren, and the rebuilding of the royal palaces in Brussels and Laeken (with its fine greenhouse complex), for which he called upon first-rate Belgian and French architects like Alphonse Balat, Charles- Louis Girault and Henri Maquet. Other schemes, such as the laying-out of the Montagne de la Cour and the construction of a Belgian Pantheon on the model of the German Walhalla near Regensburg, were never realised. Nonetheless, the two kings left a distinct mark on the appearance of their capital.