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History of Brussels - part 2

In 1830, at the time of Belgian independence, the city of Brussels was confined to the historic "pentagon", circumscribed by the old city ramparts which were dismantled between 1812 and 1840, and replaced by wide Parisian-style boulevards. (See also History of Brussels - part 1) 

In 1853, the city expanded beyond the "pentagon" to include Schaerbeek, Etterbeek (part), and Saint-Josse-ten-Noode - what became the Leopold Quarter, and the Quarter of the Squares. In 1864, the city expanded southwards to encompass what became Avenue Louise and Bois de la Cambre. In 1907, the "Jardin du Roi" and "Abbaye de la Cambre" were added (see map below). 

King Leopold II, who reigned 1865 to 1909, oversaw the transformation of Brussels into a major European city with a population of 600 thousand in 1900.   

In 1871, the river Senne was covered, and later diverted.

To the east of the historic centre, the Parc du Cinquaintenaire (1880) straddled the eastern edge of the City of Brussels and the municipality of Etterbeek. This was the main venue for the 1897 World Exhibition held in Brussels; a second venue was the Palace of the Colonies (Africa Museum) in Tervuren. The two were joined by Avenue de Tervuren, which ran from the Cinquaintenaire through Etterbeek and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre to Tervuren, and a purpose-built tram line (tram number 44) - both completed in 1897. 

A driving force for the expansion of Brussels was Victor Besme and his "Grand Urban Ring" project. Dating back to 1866, this envisaged the construction of a circle of connecting boulevards expanding Brussels urban agglomeration further outwards. The "Grand Urban Ring" included roads such as Boulevard Militaire (completed 1903) and Boulevard Brand Whitlock (completed 1906). The map below shows the extent of Brussels urban agglomeration in 1910, reaching Rond-Point St Michel (renamed Rond-Point Montgomery in 1944) in the east. 


Even while the Grand Urban Ring was in its early stages, work began on a third urban ring, known as "Boulevard de Plus Grand Ceinture". The map below shows the route taken by each of the internal ring roads. The orange-coloured route is the "Boulevard de Plus Grand Ceinture". 



During the 20th century, Brussels was twice under German occupation. 

Following the First World War, in 1921, the northern municipalities of Laeken, Neder-over-Heembeek and Haren were joined to Brussels. For the first time, the historic "pentagon" area of the city was no longer the most populous. 

During this period, the agglomération bruxelloise (Brussels urban agglomeration) continued to expand outside the formal boundaries of the city. Between 1928 and 1933 the new Avenue de Broqueville branched off from Saint Michel roundabout (future Montgomery roundabout) in a north-easterly direction towards Tomberg. A new town hall for the municipality of Woluwe Saint Lambert was built at Tomberg 1937-1939. 

During the years 1920-1940, various new housing estates were built in the suburbs around the city of Brussels along the lines of British-style "Garden cities", such as Joli Bois in Woluwe St Pierre, and the Kapelleveld in Woluwe St Lambert.

Following the Second World War, the modernisation of the city was nicknamed "Bruxellisation". A major transformation came with the 1952 north-south rail link, linking the south and north railway stations and passing through the historic "pentagon". Another major milestone was the 1958 "World Exhibition" held at Heysel in the north of Brussels; Brussels' distinctive inner city road underpasses and tunnels date to this time. The 1967 "Manhatten Project" led to the area around the North station being developed into a New York style business centre with high-rise buildings. From 1957, Brussels also became a capital city of what is now known as the European Union, and the area to the east of the historic city centre was transformed by major buildings, such as the Berlaymont tower. 

From 1960, the city also continued to expand outwards. For example Avenue Paul Hymans was built in the 1960s, connecting Tomberg down to what would become Woluwe Shopping Centre (completed 1968). 

The Brussels bypass, or motorway city orbital, known by the designation R0, was built between the 1950s and 1978. 

In more recent times, Brussels has been transformed by new developments such as the pedestrianisation of major thoroughfares such as Boulevard Anspach in 2015. 

See also History of Brussels - part 1
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