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 ...