City of Brussels

Municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region and capital of Belgium

This article is about the municipality, which is the de jure national capital. For the greater urban area with the status of Capital Region, see Brussels.

City and municipality in Belgium

City of Brussels

Ville de Bruxelles / Bruxelles-Ville (French)
Stad Brussel / Brussel-Stad (Dutch)

City and municipality

Panorama of the city centre from the Mont des Arts/Kunstberg

La Monnaie/De Munt

St. James on Coudenberg

Grand-Place/Grote Markt

Royal Palace

Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark

Flag

Coat of arms

Location of City of Brussels

City of Brussels

Location in Belgium

The City of Brussels within Brussels-Capital Region

Coordinates: 50°50′48″N 04°21′09″E﻿ / ﻿50.84667°N 4.35250°E﻿ / 50.84667; 4.35250
Country| Belgium
Community| Flemish Community
French Community
Region| Brussels-Capital
Arrondissement| Brussels-Capital
Government

• Mayor (list)| Philippe Close (PS)
• Governing party/ies| PS / Forward \- MR \- Les Engagés / CD&V
Area

• Total

| 33.09 km2 (12.78 sq mi)
Population

(2022-01-01)[1]

• Total

| 188,737
• Density| 5,700/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
Postal codes|

1000, 1020, 1030, 1040, 1050, 1120, 1130

NIS code|

21004

Area codes| 02
Website| www.brussels.be

The City of Brussels[a] is the largest municipality and historical centre of the Brussels-Capital Region,[b] as well as the capital of the French Community of Belgium, the Flemish Region (from which it is separate) and Belgium.[2] 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.[3][4][c]

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.

As of 1 January 2024[update], the City of Brussels had a population of 196,828 inhabitants.[5] The total area is 33.09 km2 (12.78 sq mi), which gives a population density of 5,949/km2 (15,410/sq mi).[5] As of 2023[update], there were 75,998 registered non-Belgians in the City.[6] In common with all of Brussels' municipalities, it is legally bilingual (French–Dutch).

## Territorial history

[edit]

Main articles: Neighbourhoods in Brussels and Pentagon (Brussels)

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.

Panoramic view of Brussels and its walls c. 1665, by Jan Baptist Bonnecroy

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 Square Frère Orban/Frère-Orbansquare.

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.[7][8][9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12][9] 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.[13] However, a few neighbouring municipalities have been merged into the City of Brussels, including Haren, Laeken and Neder-Over-Heembeek in 1921.[14] 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 Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)'s Solbosch/Solbos campus is also part of the City of Brussels, partially accounting for the bulge in the south-eastern end.

## Demographics

[edit]

### Historical population

[edit]

As of 1 January 2024[update], the City of Brussels' population was 196,828 inhabitants.[5] The area is 33.09 km2 (12.78 sq mi), making the density 5,949/km2 (15,410/sq mi).[5]

Taking into account the current municipality, including the former municipalities annexed in 1921 (Haren, Laeken and Neder-over-Heembeek) from 1831:

* Sources: INS: 1806 to 1981 = census; 1990 and later = population on 1 January

### Foreign population

[edit]

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.

As of 2023[update], 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.[15] Among all major migrant groups from outside the EU, a majority of the permanent residents have acquired Belgian nationality.[16]

Migrant communities in the City of Brussels with over 1,000 people as of 1 January 2020:[17]

France | 9,049

|

Morocco | 7,431
Romania | 7,057
Italy | 5,175
Spain | 4,690
Poland | 2,777
Portugal | 1,832
Greece | 1,758
Netherlands | 1,704
India | 1,591
Bulgaria | 1,573
Germany | 1,565
DR Congo | 1,511
Turkey | 1,389
Guinea | 1,309
United Kingdom | 1,177
Group of origin  | Year

|

2023[18][19]
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  | 74,554  | 38.37%
Non-Belgians  | 75,998 | 39.12%
Neighbouring country  | 13,512  | 6.95%
EU27 (excluding neighbouring country)  | 28,534  | 14.69%
Outside EU 27  | 33,952  | 17.47%
|  |
Total  | 194,291 | 100%

## Politics

[edit]

See also: List of mayors of the City of Brussels

Brussels' Town Hall

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.[20] 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.[21]

City of Brussels local election – 14 October 2018

Party
Votes  | %  | Swing (pp)  | Elected
2018  | Change
| PS | 19,997  | 28.38  | 0.74  |

17 / 49 (35%)

| 1
| Ecolo \- Groen | 11,847  | 16.81  | 4.42  |

9 / 49 (18%)

| 2
| MR \- Open Vld | 9,772  | 13.87  | 4.02  |

7 / 49 (14%)

| 3
| PVDA-PTB | 8,159  | 11.58  | 10.02  |

6 / 49 (12%)

| 6
| cdH \- CD&V | 6,543  | 9.29  | 8.72  |

5 / 49 (10%)

| 5
| DéFI | 5,317  | 7.55  | 0.08  |

3 / 49 (6%)

| N-VA | 2,606  | 3.70  | 0.64  |

1 / 49 (2%)

| Vooruit (Change Brussels) | 2,269  | 3.22  | New |

1 / 49 (2%)

| 1
| Vlaams Belang | 1,138  | 1.61  | 0.59  |

0 / 49 (0%)

| \-
| ISLAM (political party) | 1,125  | 1.60  | 1.30  |

0 / 49 (0%)

| \-
| Others  | 1,694  | 2.40  | 1.56  |

0 / 49 (0%)

| \-

### Environmental policy

[edit]

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.[22]

## Culture

[edit]

### Museums

[edit]

For a more comprehensive list, see List of museums in Brussels.

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:
* Art & History Museum
* Horta-Lambeaux Pavilion
* Halle Gate
* Museums of the Far East
* Musical Instruments Museum
* Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium:
* Oldmasters Museum
* Magritte Museum
* Fin-de-Siècle Museum
* Wiertz Museum
* Meunier Museum
* Royal Museum of Modern Art
* Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History

### Food

[edit]

Brussels is well known for its food. Brussels sprouts were named after the city.[23] Like most of Belgium, moules-frites, waffles (gaufres), chocolate, French fries, and beer are common there.[24] It is home to one 2-starred and four 1-starred Michelin restaurants.[25]

## Honorary citizens

[edit]

Among the recipients of the honorary citizenship of the City of Brussels are:[26]

Date  | Name  | Notes

|
|

29 June 1945  | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
12 September 1945  | Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein |
11 October 1945  | Charles de Gaulle |
16 October 1945  | Sir Winston Churchill |
16 April 1946  | Sir Arthur Coningham |
26 May 1982  | Simone Veil |
5 October 1984  | Maurice Béjart |
24 April 1985  | Gaston Thorn |
20 December 2001  | José Géal |
8 September 2004  | Annie Cordy |
18 May 2005  | José Van Dam |
22 June 2005  | Marc Sleen |
23 September 2005  | Alberto Uderzo |
24 November 2005  | Jacques Van der Biest |
20 December 2005  | Dick Annegarn |
4 Februari 2006  | Guy Loiseau | President of the Order of the Friends of Manneken Pis[26]
22 March 2006  | Marcel Hastir |
12 June 2006  | Henri Vernes |
24 June 2006  | Bernard Foccroulle |
19 October 2006  | Jean-Baptiste Beken | Companion of St. Lawrence[26]
14 November 2006  | Cécile Muller | President of Miss Belgium
5 May 2007  | Elisabeth t'Kint | Manager of the Cirque Royal[26]
7 May 2007  | Julot Verbeeck | Press officer of the Cirque Royal[26]
17 April 2008  | Expo 58 hostesses  |
12 October 2009  | William Vance |
24 February 2010  | David Susskind | Belgian Jewish leader and peace activist[27][28]
12 May 2011  | Stéphane Hessel |
22 November 2011  | Jean Van Hamme |
25 September 2013  | Agnès Varda |
29 March 2014  | Nathan Clumeck | Professor and managing director of St. Peter's Hospital
30 October 2015  | Grand Jojo | Also known as Lange Jojo
25 March 2016  | Woltje | Puppet from the Royal Theatre Toone
22 September 2017  | Arno |
27 September 2018  | Diane von Fürstenberg |

## Symbols

[edit]

Main article: Symbols of Brussels

### Heraldry

[edit]

Coat of arms of City of Brussels  |

Coronet
A Belgian Count's coronet
Escutcheon
Gules Saint Michael Or, slaying the Devil Sable
Supporters
Two lions rampant Or armed and langued Gules each holding a banner: dexter, the arms of the Duchy of Brabant, also those of Belgium, sinister, the city's arms
Compartment
A mount vert
Symbolism
Saint Michael is the city's patron saint.[29] See: Saint Michael slaying the Devil
Previous versions
See below

|

Previous versions

| The Original arms were plain Gules.[30] 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.[31]

Note: many of the arms of the Seven Noble Houses of Brussels were variants of these arms.

| 1730 arms

| Napoleonic arms[32]

### Vexillology

[edit]

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.[33] See: Saint Michael slaying the Devil

## See also

[edit]

* Belgium portal

* Transport in Brussels
* Timeline of Brussels
* Bourgeois of Brussels
* Seven Noble Houses of Brussels
* Guilds of Brussels

## References

[edit]

### Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ French: Ville de Bruxelles [vil də bʁysɛl] or alternatively Bruxelles-Ville [bʁysɛl vil]; Dutch: Stad Brussel [stɑd ˈbrʏsəl] or Brussel-Stad [ˌbrʏsəl ˈstɑt]
2. ^ The Brussels-Capital Region is usually simply referred to as Brussels (French: Bruxelles, pronounced [bʁysɛl] ⓘ or [bʁyksɛl] ⓘ; Dutch: Brussel [ˈbrʏsəl] ⓘ).
3. ^ Brussels is not formally declared capital of the EU, though its position is spelled out in the Treaty of Amsterdam.

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2022". Statbel.
2. ^ The Belgian Constitution (PDF). Brussels, Belgium: Belgian House of Representatives. May 2014. p. 63\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
3. ^ Demey 2007.
4. ^ "Protocol (No 6) on the location of the seats of the institutions and of certain bodies, offices, agencies and departments of the European Union, Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, OJ C 83, 30.3.2010, p. 265–265". EUR-Lex. 30 March 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
5. ^ a b c d "Ville de Bruxelles | IBSA". ibsa.brussels. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
6. ^ "Immigration Office | IBZ".
7. ^ Mierop 1997, p. 2, 6.
8. ^ Douillet & Schaack 2005–2006, p. 3.
9. ^ a b "Avenue Louise – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
10. ^ Mierop 1997, p. 3.
11. ^ Mierop 1997, p. 7.
12. ^ Douillet & Schaack 2005–2006, p. 8.
13. ^ Picavet, Georges (29 April 2003). "Municipalities (1795-now)". Georges Picavet. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
14. ^ "Brussels Capital-Region". Georges Picavet. 4 June 2005. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
15. ^ "Origin | Statbel". statbel.fgov.be. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
16. ^ "2.738.486 inwoners van vreemde afkomst in België op 01/01/2012" [2,738,486 inhabitants of foreign origin in Belgium on 01/01/2012]. Npdata.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
17. ^ "Nationalités | IBSA". ibsa.brussels. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
18. ^ Statistics foreign population in Belgium by municipality (in French and Dutch only)
19. ^ "Origin | Statbel". statbel.fgov.be. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
20. ^ "Résultats officiels des élections communales 2018" (in French). Retrieved 17 July 2021.
21. ^ "PS, Ecolo-Groen et sp.a ouvrent la majorité à Défi à la Ville de Bruxelles" (in French). 20 October 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
22. ^ Ann Hughes, Rebecca (22 December 2023). "10-minute city: How Brussels plans to become a pedestrian-friendly green hub". Euronews. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
23. ^ "Real Food Encyclopedia | Brussels Sprouts". FoodPrint. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
24. ^ 2venturists (10 June 2018). "What to Eat in Brussels Belgium". Venturists. Retrieved 8 February 2021.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
25. ^ "Brussels 2 Stars MICHELIN MICHELIN Restaurants – the MICHELIN Guide Belgium". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
26. ^ a b c d e "Ereburgers". opendata.brussel.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 May 2022.
27. ^ "City of Brussels". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
28. ^ "World Jewish Congress".
29. ^ Netherlandish sculpture 1450-1550 by Paul Williamson 2002 ISBN 0-8109-6602-6 page 42
30. ^ Guillaume Des Marez, "L'origine des armoiries de Bruxelles. Première phase: De gueules plain", in: Études inédites, Brussels, 1936, p. 111–113.
31. ^ Louis Robyns de Schneidauer, La couronne comtale de la ville de Bruxelles, in Le Parchemin, Gendbrugge-lez-Gand, 1939 (March–April).
32. ^ (en)Brussels[archive], on the Heraldry of the World website.
33. ^ Netherlandish sculpture 1450-1550 by Paul Williamson 2002 ISBN 0-8109-6602-6 page 42

### Bibliography

[edit]

* Demey, Thierry (2007). Brussels, capital of Europe. S. Strange (trans.). Brussels: Badeaux. ISBN 978-2-9600414-6-0.
* Douillet, Isabelle; Schaack, Cécile (2005–2006). L'avenue Louise et les rues adjacentes (PDF). Inventaire du Patrimoine architectural, Bruxelles-Extensions Sud (in French). Brussels: P. Crahay.
* Eggericx, Laure (1997). Les Boulevards du Centre. Bruxelles, ville d'Art et d'Histoire (in French). Vol. 20\. Brussels: Centre d'information, de Documentation et d'Etude du Patrimoine.
* Mierop, Caroline (1997). L'avenue Louise. Bruxelles, ville d'Art et d'Histoire (in French). Vol. 19\. Brussels: Centre d'information, de Documentation et d'Etude du Patrimoine.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brussels (municipality).

* Official website (in French, Dutch, and English)
* Official tourism website (in French, Dutch, English, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese)
* Webcam Grand-Place Brussels
* Interactive map

Places adjacent to City of Brussels

| Wemmel (VBR) | Grimbergen (VBR), Vilvoorde (VBR) | Machelen (VBR)

|
|

|  |
Jette
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek
Anderlecht |

Brussels

| Zaventem (VBR)
Evere
Schaerbeek
Saint-Josse-ten-Noode
Etterbeek
|  |
| Saint-Gilles, Uccle, Ixelles | Watermael-Boitsfort

* v
* t
* e

Brussels

City of Brussels * Brussels-Capital Region * Brussels metropolitan area

| Historical events|

* Timeline
* Fortifications
* Massacre (1370)
* 1656 treaty
* 1695 bombardment
* 1746 siege
* Duchess of Richmond's ball
* Covering of the Senne
* Francisation
* Expo 1897
* Expo 1910
* Expo 1935
* Expo 1958
* L'Innovation department store fire
* Heysel Stadium disaster
* 2016 bombings (reactions)

|
|

Administration|

* Government (Minister-President)
* Parliament
* Governor

| Historical|

* Drapery Court of Brussels
* Guilds of Brussels

|

Transport|

* Metro
* S Train
* Brussels Airport
* Charleroi Airport
* North–South connection
* Trams
* Brussels Ring
* Small Ring

Symbols|

* Symbols
* Flags
* Iris Festival

Other topics|

* Brussels and the European Union
* Science and technology

Lists|

* Notable persons
* Buildings
* Museums
* Railway stations
* Metro stations
* Schools
* Parks and gardens

Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium

* Anderlecht
* Auderghem / Oudergem
* Berchem-Sainte-Agathe / Sint-Agatha-Berchem
* Bruxelles-Ville / Stad Brussel
* Etterbeek
* Evere
* Forest / Vorst
* Ganshoren
* Ixelles / Elsene
* Jette
* Koekelberg
* Molenbeek-Saint-Jean / Sint-Jans-Molenbeek
* Saint-Gilles / Sint-Gillis
* Saint-Josse-ten-Noode / Sint-Joost-ten-Node
* Schaerbeek / Schaarbeek
* Uccle / Ukkel
* Watermael-Boitsfort / Watermaal-Bosvoorde
* Woluwe-Saint-Lambert / Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe
* Woluwe-Saint-Pierre / Sint-Pieters-Woluwe

Belgium portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* France
* BnF data

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[Change]: Change in number of seats from the 2012 election to the 2018 election
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template