Sablon, Brussels

Neighbourhood in Brussels, Belgium

"Zavel" redirects here. For the Russian-born American cantor and composer, see Zavel Kwartin.

Neighbourhood in Brussels-Capital, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium

Sablon

* Sablon (French)
* Zavel (Dutch)

Neighbourhood

Church of Our Lady of Victories seen from the Petit Sablon/Kleine Zavel's garden

Sablon

Location within Brussels

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Sablon

Sablon (Belgium)

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Coordinates: 50°50′24″N 4°21′22″E﻿ / ﻿50.84000°N 4.35611°E﻿ / 50.84000; 4.35611
Country| Belgium
Region| Brussels-Capital Region
Arrondissement| Brussels-Capital
Municipality| City of Brussels
Time zone| UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code|

1000

Area codes| 02
Website| Official website

The Sablon (French, pronounced [sablɔ̃] ⓘ) or Zavel (Dutch, pronounced [ˈzaːvəl] ⓘ) is a neighbourhood and hill in the historic upper town of Brussels, Belgium. At its heart are twin squares: the larger Grand Sablon (French) or Grote Zavel (Dutch; "Large Sablon") square in the north-west and the smaller Petit Sablon (French) or Kleine Zavel (Dutch; "Small Sablon") square and garden in the south-east, divided by the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon and the Rue de la Régence/Regentschapstraat.

The Sablon is a swanky district, where an antiques market is held, and in which antique and art dealers, as well as other luxury shops, have their businesses. This area is served by Brussels-Chapel railway station and Brussels-Central railway station, as well as the tram stop Petit Sablon/Kleine Zavel (on lines 92 and 93).[1][2]

## History

[edit]

Antoon Sallaert's The Infante Isabella shoots the jay of the Grand Serment [Crossbowmen's Guild] with a crossbow in the Sablon in Brussels depicts an Ommegang in 1615.

### Early history

[edit]

The Sablon lies near the Mont des Arts/Kunstberg neighbourhood, and lay not far outside the first walls of Brussels. It was originally an unused open space, with areas of wetlands, grassland and sand, where a hermit made his home. The words sablon in French and zavel in Dutch both mean a fine-grained sand, halfway between silt and sand.[3] St. John's Hospital (French: Hôpital Saint-Jean, Dutch: Sint-Jansgasthuis) used the area as a cemetery in the 13th century, having run out of space in its own cemetery.[4]

In 1304, the Guild of the brothers and sisters of St. John's Hospital ceded the land to the Crossbowmen's Guild. They built a modest chapel dedicated to Our Lady on the site, completed in 1318, setting off the transformation of the area.[4] Legend has is that the chapel became famous after a local devout woman named Beatrijs Soetkens had a vision in which the Virgin Mary instructed her to steal the miraculous statue of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw op 't Stocxken ("Our Lady on the Little Stick") in Antwerp, bring it to Brussels, and place it in the chapel of the Crossbowmen's Guild. The woman stole the statue, and through a series of miraculous events, was able to transport it to Brussels by boat in 1348. It was then solemnly placed in the chapel and venerated as the guild's patron. The guild also promised to hold an annual procession, carrying the image throughout Brussels. This developed into the Ommegang, an important religious and civil event in Brussels' calendar, held on the Sunday before Pentecost.[3]

### 15th to 18th centuries

[edit]

The Egmont Palace, now part of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the Sablon/Zavel

In the 15th century, the neighbourhood began to enlarge substantially. The chapel was rebuilt as the larger and more elegant Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon, still standing today. In 1470, Duke Charles the Bold charged a body with the creation of a street running from his nearby Coudenberg Palace to the church. The church became the site of the baptisms of princes; Archduchess Mary of Austria's baptismal cortège went to Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon instead of the Church of St. Michael and St. Gudula (now Brussels' cathedral), which had previously held the honour. Governor Margaret of Austria made it the site of her religious devotions as well. In 1530, it saw the greatest July procession in its history. These symbols of royal favour would ensure the lasting prosperity of the Sablon area. The Wolweide ("Wool meadow") area, corresponding loosely to the current Rue aux Laines/Wolstraat, was an extension of the Sablon, stretching to the slopes of the Galgenberg hill (French: Mont aux potences; "Gallows Mount"), where the current Palace of Justice stands.[5]

In the 16th century, Brussels' most prominent noblemen established themselves on the upper Sablon and on the Rue aux Laines. The Egmonts, the Culemborgs, the Brederodes and the Mansfelds were the first, and the De Lannoys, the De Lalaings, the Thurn und Taxis, and the Solres joined them. The result was that by the 17th century, the Sablon had grown to become the most aristocratic and prosperous neighbourhood in the city. The Egmont Palace on the Petit Sablon is still standing, and gives the best indication of what the area was like at the height of its splendour; the grandiose houses of the Lannoys and the Mérode-Westerloo family still stand on the Rue aux Laines. In 1566, the Culemborg Mansion on the Rue des Petits Carmes/Karmelietenstraat was the site of the drafting of the Compromise of Nobles, which ultimately led to the Dutch Revolt.[6] To eliminate any trace of this seditious act against the king, the Duke of Alba razed the mansion to the ground in 1568.[6]

The proximity of the cemetery was already an irritation to its aristocratic neighbours in 1554, but it would be another century and a half before the government of Brussels recognised that the situation had become unbearable. They reported that corpses "were often neglected and left in only half-covered graves, from which dogs had several times pulled parts off and run around in broad daylight with arms and legs in their mouths".[7] It was therefore decided in 1704 to move the cemetery to the Marolles/Marollen district.[3]

### 19th century to present

[edit]

The Square du Grand Sablon/Grote Zavelsquare and its market, c. 1900

The Sablon neighbourhood was remodelled in the 19th century as the Rue de la Régence/Regentschapstraat was driven through the area, creating a Haussmann-esque style artery between the Royal Palace of Brussels in the Royal Quarter and the new Palace of Justice in the Marolles. The new street skirted the church, and all buildings immediately adjacent to it were demolished starting in 1872, opening up new views of the church. On that occasion, buildings not directly adjacent to the church were renovated and improved.[8]

Wittamer & Co chocolatier on the Grand Sablon. After losing its prestige, the area is chic once again.

From the 19th to early 20th centuries, the Grand Sablon became a renowned site for a sport called jeu de balle or balle pelote [fr], a ball game similar to modern handball. Though the sport is no longer played much today, it enjoyed immense popularity at the time. The Kings of the Belgians would frequently be seen among the spectators of a match; Leopold II explained that he would frequently come watch the games, as he lived in the area.[9]

The social composition of the neighbourhood changed over the course of time. In the 19th century, it was incrementally abandoned by the aristocracy in favour of newer, more chic neighbourhoods, such as the Leopold Quarter. In the 20th century, the Square du Grand Sablon/Grote Zavelsquare was occupied by a more modest populace, characterised by small workshops and warehouses. At the end of the 1960s, the neigbourhood's character began to change yet again. Multiple antique stores moved in, following demolitions in the nearby Mont des Arts area.[10] Bit by bit, the Sablon became a desirable place once again, giving rise to the neologism "sablonisation", a local version of gentrification. Recently, a number of chocolatiers and confectioners have come to the area,[3] which is once again the heart of the Brussels upper class.[11]

## Grand Sablon

[edit]

Fountain of Minerva [fr] on the Square du Grand Sablon

### History

[edit]

The Square du Grand Sablon/Grote Zavelsquare lies to the north-west of the church. It is in the shape of a long triangle, around 50 m (160 ft) wide in the south-east, terminating in a point around 130 m (430 ft) to the north-west. When Brussels' residents mention the "Sablon" without qualification, they are usually referring to the Grand Sablon.[12] The Grand Sablon was linked to the Petit Sablon by the Rue Bodenbroek/Bodenbroekstraat and the Rue des Sablons/Zavelstraat, though the division between the two Sablons was accentuated by the Rue de la Régence/Regentschapstraat cutting through the area.[3]

In the 16th century, the Grand Sablon was known as the Peerdemerct (Middle Dutch for "Horse market", Latin: Forum Equorum), due to the horse market that was held there from 1320 to 1754. The place was also known as the Zavelpoel ("Sandy pond")[13] due to a pond in the centre, which would last until 1615. After the pond was filled in, a fountain was erected in its place in 1661. Water was brought to the fountain by a new conduit from Obbrussel (now Saint-Gilles). This fountain was replaced in 1751 by the present Fountain of Minerva [fr], which was a posthumous gift from the exiled British nobleman Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury, who wished to thank the people of Brussels for their hospitality. The fountain was renovated in 1999.[14]

The Grand Sablon was often the stage for festivals and competitions, but also for tragic events. On 1 June 1568, it was the site of a mass execution, as 18 signatories of the Compromise of Nobles were decapitated.[15]

Saint-Verhaegen/Sint-Verhaegen festivities start at the Grand Sablon.

### Present day

[edit]

The Grand Sablon is nowadays a genuine neighbourhood with residents and small businesses, while at the same time being a popular place to stroll and a tourist attraction. Surrounding the square are numerous antique stores, fashionable boutiques, hotels, restaurants, an auction house, and numerous pastry shops and well-known Belgian chocolatiers, including Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini and Godiva. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Grand Sablon hosts the Sablon Antiques and Books Market.[3]

As is the case with many other public squares in Brussels, the Grand Sablon has been partially transformed into a parking lot. A plan to refurbish the space is being investigated.[citation needed]

Each year, the Sablon is the starting point for the Ommegang procession. On 20 November, it hosts the beginning of the Saint Verhaegen student parade (often shortened to St V), which celebrates the founding of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) universities.[16]

## Petit Sablon

[edit]

Fountain of the Counts of Egmont and Horn in the Petit Sablon's garden

To the south-east of the church, and slightly uphill, lies the Square du Petit Sablon/Kleine Zavelsquare. It is a roughly rectangular garden, featuring trees, hedges, flowers and most notably, statues.

In the Middle Ages, the Zavelbeek ("Sablon Brook") had its source in the Petit Sablon. It flowed in nearly a straight line into the Senne river, joining it roughly at the current Place Fontainas/Fontainasplein. Its course is still followed by the streets in the area to this day.[17] The Petit Sablon was the site of St. John Hospital's cemetery, mentioned above, until it was moved.[3]

The present-day garden was created by the architect Henri Beyaert, and was inaugurated in 1890. It is surrounded by an ornate wrought iron fence inspired by one that once decorated the Coudenberg Palace. The fence is punctuated by tall stone pillars; atop each pillar is a statue of one or more historical professions, with 48 statues in total. To ensure that the statues were stylistically coherent, Beyaert asked the painter Xavier Mellery to design all of them, though they were executed by different sculptors. Each pillar has a unique design, as does each section of fence.[18]

In the centre of the garden stands a fountain-sculpture by Charles-Auguste Fraikin of the Counts of Egmont and Horn, who were symbols of resistance against the Spanish tyranny that sparked the Dutch Revolt. This monument was initially in front of the King's House on the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square), the site of their execution. It is surrounded by a semicircle of ten statues of 16th-century political figures, intellectuals and artists.[19]

* Petit Sablon's sculptures
* The Slater by Albert Desenfans

* The Clockmaker by Jean Cuypers [fr]

* The Plumber by Cuypers

* The Boilermaker by Jef Lambeaux

* The Bleacher (Launderer) by Lambeaux

## See also

[edit]

* Belgium portal

* Neighbourhoods in Brussels
* Neoclassical architecture in Belgium
* History of Brussels
* Culture of Belgium
* Belgium in the long nineteenth century

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ "Line 92 to FORT-JACO - STIB Mobile". m.stib.be. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
2. ^ "Line 93 to STADE - STIB Mobile". m.stib.be. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
3. ^ a b c d e f g "Le Sablon" (in French). City of Brussels. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
4. ^ a b (in French) Le Sablon. Le quartier et l'église, Ville d'Art et d'Histoire. n° 9, Editions Solibel & Brussels-Capital Region, 1995, p. 3
5. ^ "Palais de Justice" (in French). Belgian federal building registry. 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
6. ^ a b Monica Stensland (2012). Habsburg Communication in the Dutch Revolt. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 9789089644138.
7. ^ (in French) « ...estoient souvent négligés et mis dans les fosses à moitié couverts, dont les chiens avoient plusieurs fois tiré des pièces et couru en plein jour avec les bras et les jambes... » Alexandre Henne and Alphonse Wauters, Histoire de la ville de Bruxelles, Éditions Libro-Sciences, 1968, Tome 3, p. 401
8. ^ Mardaga 1994, p. 274.
9. ^ (in French) Jacques Dubreucq, Bruxelles 1000. Une histoire capitale, Edited by the author, 1996, Volume 1, p. 258
10. ^ (in French) Itinéraire de la rénovation des quartiers anciens à Bruxelles : 8 km à pied à travers le Pentagone et Molenbeek (in French), Collection Hommes et Paysages, Société Royale Belge de Géographie, 2001, p. 63
11. ^ "De week van tvbrussel vanuit het Museum van de Stad Brussel" (in Dutch). TV Brussel. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
12. ^ D'Osta 1986, p. 293.
13. ^ Jacobs 1994, p. 78.
14. ^ (in French) La fontaine de Minerve coule à nouveau, Le Soir, 4 December 1999
15. ^ Verniers 1965, p. 227.
16. ^ "Saint-Verhaegen calme et fraîche: moins d'interventions qu'en 2012" (in French). RTBF. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
17. ^ Jacobs 1994, p. 70.
18. ^ "Le Petit Sablon : Les 48 statuettes des Corporations Professionnelles - Bruxelles Pentagone" (in French). eBru. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
19. ^ Mardaga 1993, p. 123.

### Bibliography

[edit]

* D'Osta, Jean (1986). Dictionnaire historique et anecdotique des rues de Bruxelles (in French). Brussels: éd. Paul Legrain.
* Jacobs, Roel (1994). Bruxelles. L'histoire dans la ville (in French). Bruges: Marc van de Wiele. ISBN 978-90-6966-098-1.
* Verniers, Louis (1965). Un millénaire d'histoire de Bruxelles. Des origines à 1830 (in French). Brussels: A. De Boeck.
* Le Patrimoine monumental de la Belgique: Bruxelles (PDF) (in French). Vol. 1B: Pentagone E-M. Liège: Pierre Mardaga. 1993.
* Le Patrimoine monumental de la Belgique: Bruxelles (PDF) (in French). Vol. 1C: Pentagone N-Z. Liège: Pierre Mardaga. 1994.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Sablon/Zavel at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website at "Sablon, Quartier des arts et du commerce".
* Le Sablon at Ville De Bruxelles

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