City of Brussels
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The City of BrusselsTemplate:Efn is the largest municipality and historical centre of the Brussels-Capital Region,Template:Efn as well as the capital of the French Community of Belgium, the Flemish Region (from which it is separate) and Belgium.[1] 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.Template:Sfn[2]Template:Efn
Besides the central historic town located within the Pentagon, the City of Brussels covers some of the city's immediate outskirts within the greater Brussels-Capital Region, namely the former municipalities of Haren, Laeken, and Neder-Over-Heembeek to the north, as well as the Avenue Louise/Louizalaan and the Bois de la Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos park to the south-east, where it borders municipalities in Flanders.
since 1 January 2024[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., the City of Brussels had a population of 196,828 inhabitants.[3] The total area is Script error: No such module "convert"., which gives a population density of Script error: No such module "convert"..[3] since 2023[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., there were 75,998 registered non-Belgians in the City.[4] In common with all of Brussels' municipalities, it is legally bilingual (French–Dutch).
Territorial history
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Historically, the City of Brussels was simply defined, being the area within the second walls of Brussels, the modern-day Small Ring (Brussels' inner ring road). As the city grew, so did the surrounding villages, eventually forming a contiguous city, though the local governments retained control of their respective areas.
At the country's independence in 1830, the new members of the Belgian upper class hoped to create a new prestigious residential area in the capital. An official plan for the Leopold Quarter was drawn up in 1838, marking the first major extension of the City of Brussels in its eastern part, following the transfer of a large area of the municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. The area was designed to emanate from Brussels Park (located in front of the Royal Palace), and was laid out on a grid in a traditional classical pattern centred around the Script error: No such module "Lang"./Script error: No such module "Lang"..
Shortly afterwards, in 1844, the Avenue Louise/Louizalaan was proposed as a monumental avenue bordered by chestnut trees that would allow easy access from Brussels' city centre to the popular recreational area of the Bois de la Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[5] However, fierce resistance to the project was put up by the towns of Saint-Gilles and Ixelles—then, as now, separate municipalities (local authorities) from the City of Brussels—through whose territories the avenue was to run.Template:Sfn After years of fruitless negotiations, the City of Brussels finally annexed the narrow band of land needed for the avenue, in addition to the Bois de la Cambre itself, in April 1864.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[5] That decision accounts for the unusual shape of today's City of Brussels and for the separation of Ixelles into two separate areas.
To the east, in 1853, following the bankruptcy of Saint-Josse's municipal administration, the City of Brussels purchased half of this municipality. Nowadays, this is the Squares Quarter, the only part of the Brussels municipality to have the same postal code (1040) as the municipality of Etterbeek. Further east, in 1880, a former military exercise ground and the surrounding land, also located in Etterbeek, were attached to the City to create the Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark, an exhibition space commemorating the 50th anniversary of independence. A leisure park and museums were subsequently set up there.
Unlike most of the municipalities in Belgium, the ones now located in the Brussels-Capital Region were not merged with others during mergers occurring in 1964, 1970, and 1975.[6] However, a few neighbouring municipalities have been merged into the City of Brussels, including Haren, Laeken and Neder-Over-Heembeek in 1921.[7] These comprise the northern bulge in the municipality. To the south-east is the above-mentioned strip of land along the Avenue Louise that was annexed from Saint-Gilles and Ixelles. Part of the Script error: No such module "Lang". (ULB)'s Solbosch/Solbos campus is also part of the City of Brussels, partially accounting for the bulge in the south-eastern end.
Demographics
Historical population
since 1 January 2024[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., the City of Brussels' population was 196,828 inhabitants.[3] The area is Script error: No such module "convert"., making the density Script error: No such module "convert"..[3]
Taking into account the current municipality, including the former municipalities annexed in 1921 (Haren, Laeken and Neder-over-Heembeek) from 1831: <timeline> Colors=
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bar:1831 at: 102701 fontsize:S text: 102.701 shift:(-10,5) bar:1846 at: 129680 fontsize:S text: 129.680 shift:(-10,5) bar:1856 at: 159809 fontsize:S text: 159.809 shift:(-10,5) bar:1866 at: 169311 fontsize:S text: 169.311 shift:(-10,5) bar:1880 at: 183315 fontsize:S text: 183.315 shift:(-10,5) bar:1890 at: 205096 fontsize:S text: 205.096 shift:(-10,5) bar:1900 at: 218623 fontsize:S text: 218.623 shift:(-10,5) bar:1910 at: 218969 fontsize:S text: 218.969 shift:(-10,5) bar:1920 at: 203058 fontsize:S text: 203.058 shift:(-10,5) bar:1930 at: 200433 fontsize:S text: 200.433 shift:(-10,5) bar:1947 at: 184838 fontsize:S text: 184.838 shift:(-10,5) bar:1961 at: 170489 fontsize:S text: 170.489 shift:(-10,5) bar:1970 at: 161080 fontsize:S text: 161.080 shift:(-10,5) bar:1981 at: 139678 fontsize:S text: 139.678 shift:(-10,5) bar:1990 at: 136706 fontsize:S text: 136.706 shift:(-10,5) bar:2000 at: 133859 fontsize:S text: 133.859 shift:(-10,5) bar:2010 at: 157673 fontsize:S text: 157.673 shift:(-10,5) bar:2020 at: 185103 fontsize:S text: 185.103 shift:(-10,5) bar:2024 at: 196828 fontsize:S text: 196.828 shift:(-10,5)
</timeline>
- Sources: INS: 1806 to 1981 = census; 1990 and later = population on 1 January
Foreign population
The City of Brussels has a large immigrant population, with both the EU and non-European migrant communities outnumbering the native Belgians. Akin to neighbouring Ixelles, Etterbeek and Schaerbeek, the City of Brussels also has a large Muslim population, mainly of North African origin.
since 2023[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., taking into account the nationality of birth of the parents, 55.84% of the City of Brussels's population is of non-European origin (predominantly Moroccan, Indian and Congolese), 27.21% is of European origin other than Belgian (mainly French, Romanian, Italian, Spanish, and Polish), while 16.94% is solely of native Belgian ancestry.[8] Among all major migrant groups from outside the EU, a majority of the permanent residents have acquired Belgian nationality.[9]
Migrant communities in the City of Brussels with over 1,000 people as of 1 January 2020:[10]
| Group of origin | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023[11][12] | ||
| Number | % | |
| Belgians with Belgian background | 32,916 | 16.94% |
| Belgians with foreign background | 85,377 | 43.94% |
| Neighbouring country | 4,194 | 2.16% |
| EU27 (excluding neighbouring country) | 6,629 | 3.41% |
| Outside EU 27 | ||
| Non-Belgians | 75,998 | 39.12% |
| Neighbouring country | 6.95% | |
| EU27 (excluding neighbouring country) | ||
| Outside EU 27 | ||
| Total | 194,291 | 100% |
Politics
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As in every other Belgian municipality, the City of Brussels is headed by a mayor, who should not be confused with the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region or the Governor of Brussels-Capital. The current city council was elected in the October 2018 elections.[13] The current mayor of the City of Brussels is Philippe Close, a member of PS, who is in coalition on the municipal council with Ecolo - Groen, DéFI and Forward.[14]
Environmental policy
Brussels is ranked sixth in the index of cities which are becoming greener fastest as for the year 2022, even though in the past it had a reputation of a "traffic-choked city of high rises and concrete". The authorities released a plan composed of seven steps on how to make the city even more sustainable. Those include introducing "a use-based, circular and low-carbon economy" and making the city "proactive". The city should become a "10-minute city" meaning "making the facilities essential to urban life accessible to every inhabitant in less than 10 minutes". Green spaces should be expanded. The plan includes participation of the population in decision-making and high life level for all.[15]
Culture
Museums
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There are many museums in and around Brussels' city centre. On the first Sunday of every month, free entry is granted to many of Brussels' museums.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of museums in the City of Brussels:
- Royal Museums of Art and History:
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium:
- Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History
Food
Brussels is well known for its food. Brussels sprouts were named after the city.[16] Like most of Belgium, moules-frites, waffles (gaufres), chocolate, French fries, and beer are common there.[17] It is home to one 2-starred and four 1-starred Michelin restaurants.[18]
Honorary citizens
Among the recipients of the honorary citizenship of the City of Brussels are:[19]
| Date | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | ||
| Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein | ||
| Charles de Gaulle | ||
| Sir Winston Churchill | ||
| Sir Arthur Coningham | ||
| Simone Veil | ||
| 5 October 1984 | Maurice Béjart | |
| Gaston Thorn | ||
| José Géal | ||
| 8 September 2004 | Annie Cordy | |
| José Van Dam | ||
| Marc Sleen | ||
| Alberto Uderzo | ||
| Jacques Van der Biest | ||
| Dick Annegarn | ||
| 4 Februari 2006 | Guy Loiseau | President of the Order of the Friends of Manneken Pis[19] |
| Marcel Hastir | ||
| Henri Vernes | ||
| Bernard Foccroulle | ||
| Jean-Baptiste Beken | Companion of St. Lawrence[19] | |
| Cécile Muller | President of Miss Belgium | |
| 5 May 2007 | Elisabeth t'Kint | Manager of the Cirque Royal[19] |
| 7 May 2007 | Julot Verbeeck | Press officer of the Cirque Royal[19] |
| Expo 58 hostesses | ||
| William Vance | ||
| David Susskind | Belgian Jewish leader and peace activist[20][21] | |
| Stéphane Hessel | ||
| Jean Van Hamme | ||
| Agnès Varda | ||
| Nathan Clumeck | Professor and managing director of St. Peter's Hospital | |
| Grand Jojo | Also known as Lange Jojo | |
| Woltje | Puppet from the Royal Theatre Toone | |
| Arno | ||
| Diane von Fürstenberg |
Symbols
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Heraldry
| Previous versions | |
|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | The Original arms were plain Gules.[22] From the 16th century on, it was customary to put the figure of the city seal representing Saint Michael, first as a shadow then in a more elaborate form.[23]
Note: many of the arms of the Seven Noble Houses of Brussels were variants of these arms. |
| File:Greater Coat of Arms of Brussels (1730).svg | 1730 arms |
| Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Napoleonic arms[24] |
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Vexillology
| Flag of the City of Brussels | |
|---|---|
| Description:
Green and red with at its centre Saint Michael slaying the dragon (Devil). Symbolism: Saint Michael is the city's patron saint.[25] See: Saint Michael slaying the Devil | |
See also
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- Transport in Brussels
- Timeline of Brussels
- Bourgeois of Brussels
- Seven Noble Houses of Brussels
- Guilds of Brussels
References
Footnotes
Citations
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- ↑ Statistics foreign population in Belgium by municipality (in French and Dutch only)
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- ↑ Guillaume Des Marez, "L'origine des armoiries de Bruxelles. Première phase: De gueules plain", in: Études inédites, Brussels, 1936, p. 111–113.
- ↑ Louis Robyns de Schneidauer, La couronne comtale de la ville de Bruxelles, in Le Parchemin, Gendbrugge-lez-Gand, 1939 (March–April).
- ↑ (en)Brussels[archive], on the Heraldry of the World website.
- ↑ Netherlandish sculpture 1450-1550 by Paul Williamson 2002 Template:ISBN page 42
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Bibliography
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External links
- Official website Template:In lang
- Official tourism website Template:In lang
- Webcam Grand-Place Brussels
- Interactive map
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