Wetstraat
Encyclopedia
Rue de la Loi or Wetstraat (Dutch
) is a principal road running through central and eastern Brussels
(Belgium
) which is famous due to the presence of several notable governmental buildings (of Belgium and the European Union
). The road, whose name translates into English
as Law Street, runs from Rue Royale/Koningsstraat (
50.8468°N 4.3625°E), almost in the centre of Brussels, to Schuman roundabout
(50.8419°N 4.3859°E), in its European quarter
. It forms the first (westerly) part of the N3 motorway that runs to Aachen
, Germany
.
The term Rue de la Loi or Wetstraat is often used in the Belgian media as a metonym
for government because not only the Belgian Federal Parliament
is at the beginning of this street, but also the office of the prime minister at number 16. At the far end is the Berlaymont building
on the Schuman roundabout and Cinquantenaire
beyond that. Shortly before the roundabout, the central part of the road sinks underground into the subterranean Belliard Tunnel (the continuation of the N3 motorway) that runs under the roundabout and Cinquantenaire.
is also situated here.
line being built under it. In 2001 it was proposed that one lane of the road should be removed and the pavements extended to include cycleways
. This, together with an overall face-lift, was completed on 7 September 2003 and immediately calls rose for the reversal of traffic flow (see redevelopment below).
(the local authority) launched an international urban design competition to redevelop the area as an eco-district, concentrating on improving pedestrian and public transport access. They stated it should include more public spaces and have a "strong symbolic identity" with high environmental and architectural standards. Furthermore, they aimed to diversify the area by bringing in more housing, cultural and leisure areas while simultaneously increasing the area occupied by the Commission from 170,000 m² to 400,000 m² - doubling the building density along the street.
In March 2009, a French-Belgian-British team led by French architect Christian de Portzamparc won the competition and Siim Kallas stated that the project, which would be put into action over a few a long period rather than all at once, would create a "symbolic area for the EU institutions" giving "body and soul to the European political project" and providing the Commission with extra office space. The road would be reduced from four lanes to two, and be returned to two way traffic (rather than all west-bound) and the architects proposed a tram line to run down the centre. A series of high rise buildings would be built on either side with three 'flag ship' skyscrapers at the east end on the north side. Charles Picqué described the towers as "iconic buildings that will be among the highest in Brussels" and that "building higher allows you to turn closed blocks into open spaces." The tallest towers at the eastern end would be subject to a separate architectural competition and would be symbolic of the Commission. The freed up space (some 180,000m²) would be given over to housing, shops, services and open spaces to give the area a more "human" feel. A sixth European School
may also be built. On the western edge of the quarter, on the small ring
, there would be "gates to Europe" to add visual impact.
The general quarter master plan saw not only the road being reduced from four lanes to two, but the tunnel entrance being covered as far as Résidence Palace, and a new square between the Rue d'Arlon/Aarlenstraat and Rue de Trêves/Trierstraat.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
) is a principal road running through central and eastern Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) which is famous due to the presence of several notable governmental buildings (of Belgium and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
). The road, whose name translates into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as Law Street, runs from Rue Royale/Koningsstraat (
50.8468°N 4.3625°E), almost in the centre of Brussels, to Schuman roundabout
Schuman roundabout
Schuman Roundabout , or Schuman Square, is a roundabout at the end of Rue de la Loi in Brussels that serves as a focus for major institutions of the European Union ....
(50.8419°N 4.3859°E), in its European quarter
Brussels and the European Union
Brussels is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter...
. It forms the first (westerly) part of the N3 motorway that runs to Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The term Rue de la Loi or Wetstraat is often used in the Belgian media as a metonym
Metonymy
Metonymy is a figure of speech used in rhetoric in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept...
for government because not only the Belgian Federal Parliament
Belgian Federal Parliament
The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate . It sits in the Palace of the Nation .- Chamber of Representatives :...
is at the beginning of this street, but also the office of the prime minister at number 16. At the far end is the Berlaymont building
Berlaymont building
The Berlaymont is an office building in Brussels, Belgium that houses the headquarters of the European Commission, which is the executive of the European Union...
on the Schuman roundabout and Cinquantenaire
Cinquantenaire
Parc du Cinquantenaire or Jubelpark is a large public, urban park in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium....
beyond that. Shortly before the roundabout, the central part of the road sinks underground into the subterranean Belliard Tunnel (the continuation of the N3 motorway) that runs under the roundabout and Cinquantenaire.
Buildings
The street starts, flowing off from Rue des Colonies, intersecting with Rue Royale. Immediately to the south is Parc metro station and Brussels Park. To the north is the Belgian Parliament building on the Palais de la Nation. The Théâtre Royal du ParcThéâtre Royal du Parc
The Théâtre Royal du Parc is a theatre at 3, Rue de la Loi in Brussels, on the edge of the Parc de Bruxelles facing the Federal Parliament...
is also situated here.
- 16 (north): Official residenceOfficial residenceAn official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
of the Prime Minister of Belgium - ~ Avenue des Arts (Small ringSmall ring (Brussels)The Brussels small ring or inner ring road is a series of roadways in central Brussels, Belgium, surrounding the historic city centre. It was built on the site of the Second walls of Brussels, built in the 16th century, after they were torn down....
) and Arts-Loi metro stationArts-Loi/Kunst-Wet metro stationArts-Loi/Kunst-Wet is a Brussels metro station in the City of Brussels, Brussels. It is the only station in the metro network where all four lines meet. It is located under the intersection of "Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat" and "Avenue des Arts/Kunstlaan", the latter street being part of the "inner...
(lines 1, 2, 5 and 6) - 41 (south): European Commission
- 56 (north): European Commission
- Rue de Spa, 2 (north): European Commission
- Rue de Spa, 3 (north): European Commission
- 86 (north): European Commission
- 102 (north): European Commission
- 130 (north): European Commission
- 107 Crown Plaza Hotel
- ~ Maelbeek metro stationMaelbeek/Maalbeek metro stationMaalbeek/Maelbeek station is a Brussels metro station in the City of Brussels. The name of the station originates from a stream named Maelbeek.-History:...
(lines 1 and 5) - ~ Chaussée d'Etterbeek
- ~ (north) Jardin du MaelbeekJardin du MaelbeekThe Maalbeekdaltuin or Jardin de la vallée du Maelbeek is a small green space on the corner of the Rue de la Loi and Chaussé d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg at the heart of the European Quarter of Brussels...
- 145 (south): Lex buildingLex buildingThe Lex building is a high-rise of government offices in the European Quarter of Brussels . It is an annex building of the Council of the European Union and is located at Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 145....
, Council of the European Union - 170 (north): Charlemagne buildingCharlemagne buildingThe Charlemagne building is a high-rise in the European Quarter of Brussels , which houses the Directorate-General for Trade and the Directorate General for Enlargement of the European Commission....
, foreign affairs departments of the European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union.... - Schuman stationSchuman stationSchuman station is a railway and metro station in the City of Brussels. The metro station opened in 1969 and serves the European quarter of Brussels.-Metro:...
(heavy rail) - 155 (south): Résidence PalaceRésidence PalaceThe Résidence Palace is a complex of buildings between the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat and the Chaussée d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg in the European Quarter of Brussels...
, press centre future headquarters of the European CouncilEuropean CouncilThe European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy...
and the Council of the European Union - ~ Belliard tunnel entrance to N3 motorway
- 200 (north): Berlaymont buildingBerlaymont buildingThe Berlaymont is an office building in Brussels, Belgium that houses the headquarters of the European Commission, which is the executive of the European Union...
, headquarters of the European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union.... - 175 (south): Justus Lipsius buildingJustus Lipsius buildingThe Justus Lipsius building is a building in Brussels that has been the headquarters of the Council of the European Union since 1995. Unlike the European Parliament, visiting is restricted...
, headquarters of the Council of the European UnionCouncil of the European UnionThe Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers... - Schuman stationSchuman stationSchuman station is a railway and metro station in the City of Brussels. The metro station opened in 1969 and serves the European quarter of Brussels.-Metro:...
(metro, lines 1 and 5) - ~ Schuman roundaboutSchuman roundaboutSchuman Roundabout , or Schuman Square, is a roundabout at the end of Rue de la Loi in Brussels that serves as a focus for major institutions of the European Union ....
History
The road was redeveloped into a higher capacity one way thoroughfare in 1969 with the first metroBrussels Metro
The Brussels Metro is a rapid transit system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It consists of a network with four metro line services with some shared sections. The metro has 49.9 km of network and 59 stations...
line being built under it. In 2001 it was proposed that one lane of the road should be removed and the pavements extended to include cycleways
Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
. This, together with an overall face-lift, was completed on 7 September 2003 and immediately calls rose for the reversal of traffic flow (see redevelopment below).
Redevelopment
As part of plans to improve the image of the European Quarter, the eastern part of the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat running through the quarter (between the small ring and the Chaussée d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg) will rebuilt. In April 2008 the Brussels-Capital Region (the regional authority), together with the European Commission and the City of BrusselsCity of Brussels
The City of Brussels is the largest municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region, and the official capital of Belgium by law....
(the local authority) launched an international urban design competition to redevelop the area as an eco-district, concentrating on improving pedestrian and public transport access. They stated it should include more public spaces and have a "strong symbolic identity" with high environmental and architectural standards. Furthermore, they aimed to diversify the area by bringing in more housing, cultural and leisure areas while simultaneously increasing the area occupied by the Commission from 170,000 m² to 400,000 m² - doubling the building density along the street.
In March 2009, a French-Belgian-British team led by French architect Christian de Portzamparc won the competition and Siim Kallas stated that the project, which would be put into action over a few a long period rather than all at once, would create a "symbolic area for the EU institutions" giving "body and soul to the European political project" and providing the Commission with extra office space. The road would be reduced from four lanes to two, and be returned to two way traffic (rather than all west-bound) and the architects proposed a tram line to run down the centre. A series of high rise buildings would be built on either side with three 'flag ship' skyscrapers at the east end on the north side. Charles Picqué described the towers as "iconic buildings that will be among the highest in Brussels" and that "building higher allows you to turn closed blocks into open spaces." The tallest towers at the eastern end would be subject to a separate architectural competition and would be symbolic of the Commission. The freed up space (some 180,000m²) would be given over to housing, shops, services and open spaces to give the area a more "human" feel. A sixth European School
European School
The European Schools are co-educational schools providing nursery, primary and secondary. They are established to provide free education for children of personnel of the European Institutions and leading to the European Baccalaureate. Other children may be admitted subject to the availability of...
may also be built. On the western edge of the quarter, on the small ring
Small ring (Brussels)
The Brussels small ring or inner ring road is a series of roadways in central Brussels, Belgium, surrounding the historic city centre. It was built on the site of the Second walls of Brussels, built in the 16th century, after they were torn down....
, there would be "gates to Europe" to add visual impact.
The general quarter master plan saw not only the road being reduced from four lanes to two, but the tunnel entrance being covered as far as Résidence Palace, and a new square between the Rue d'Arlon/Aarlenstraat and Rue de Trêves/Trierstraat.
See also
- Brussels and the European UnionBrussels and the European UnionBrussels is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter...
- Leopold QuarterLeopold QuarterThe Leopold Quarter is a quarter of Brussels, Belgium. Today the term is sometimes confused with European Quarter, as the area has come to be dominated by the institutions of the European Union and organisations dealing with them, although the two terms are not in fact the same, with the Leopold...
- Rue BelliardRue BelliardRue Belliard or Belliardstraat is a major street in Brussels, Belgium. The street runs parallel to the Rue de la Loi. Both are one-way streets; where traffic in Rue de la Loi is running in the western direction towards the Brussels city centre, the Rue Belliard is running in the eastern...
- Small ring (Brussels)Small ring (Brussels)The Brussels small ring or inner ring road is a series of roadways in central Brussels, Belgium, surrounding the historic city centre. It was built on the site of the Second walls of Brussels, built in the 16th century, after they were torn down....