The former Palace of Justice of Brussels was a courthouse in Brussels, Belgium, located on the / (now the /). Designed by the French architect , it was built between 1818 and 1823, during the time of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, to house the city's law courts. Following the Belgian Revolution of 1830, it continued to serve as Brussels' principal courthouse until the completion of the current Palace of Justice, designed by the architect Joseph Poelaert and built at a different location, and was demolished in 1892.

History

Early history The Palace of Justice was designed by the French architect , and built from 1818 to 1823, on the site of a former Jesuit church. This neoclassical structure was located in the Sablon/Zavel district, on the / (today's /), between the / (today's /) and the (now-disappeared) /.

On the entrance portico, beneath the pediment, the following inscription could be read in large letters: "WILHEMUS PRIMUS BELGARUM REX THEMIDI CONSECRAVIT MDCCCXXIII". After Belgium gained its independence, in 1831, this inscription commemorating King William I of the Netherlands was changed to a very sober "PALAIS DE JUSTICE".

Demolition By the mid-19th century, the building had quickly deteriorated and become inadequate for the expanding judicial administration, leading to plans for a larger replacement. It was superseded by the current Palace of Justice, designed by the architect Joseph Poelaert and built between 1866 and 1883 in the Marolles/Marollen district. As for the old courthouse, it was demolished in 1892 to make way for the /, which leads into the Place de la Justice.

See also

Neoclassical architecture in Belgium History of Brussels Belgium in the long nineteenth century

References

Citations

Bibliography

Further reading Yvon Leblicq, Les deux Palais de justice de Bruxelles au XIXe siècle, in : Poelaert et son temps, Brussels, 1980, pp. 251–260. Pierre-Jacques Goetghebuer, Choix des monumens, édifices et maisons les plus remarquables du royaume des Pays-Bas, Ghent, 1827, p. 97 Marc Meganck, Bruxelles disparu, 2nd volume, 180° éditions, 2014, collection Bruxelles ma belle, , pp. 30–31

External links