State Archives in Belgium - “Europe in Brussels. From Federal World District to Capital of Europe, 1900-2010”

“Europe in Brussels. From Federal World District to Capital of Europe, 1900-2010”

Today, Brussels is a political world city. Despite the absence of a European constitution stipulating Brussels as its capital, the Belgian capital city has de facto taken on this role over the years since the signing of the Treaties of Rome (1957).

For many Europeans and citizens around the world, Brussels is synonym for Europe. But Belgium’s capital has not gained its place on the podium of alpha cities of the world without effort. This position is the fruit of a long-winded process of international decision-making and metropolisation that started before the actual European integration process. Brussels’ ambitions in the years prior to the First World War were not only of European scope, but far more wide-ranging, namely global! The creation of a Federal World District in Brussels – an idea of lawyer and publisher Louis Frank – is only one example among many others. There were furthermore plans for the construction of a Palace for Arts and Sciences, a World Communication Centre and a Mundaneum – a project of Paul Otlet. Thus, consternation in Belgium was huge when Geneva was chosen in 1919 as seat for the League of Nations instead of Brussels.

Belgian intellectuals, opinion makers, journalists and politicians who have contributed to forging the central role of Brussels at international and later European level have all left numerous traces in various archives and other historical sources.

These exceptional sources (150 inedited reproductions of archive documents) can be discovered in the book and the exhibition “Europe in Brussels. From Federal World District to Capital of Europe, 1900-2010”.

The exhibition

National Archives of Belgium – Entrance hall
Rue de Ruysbroeck, 2 – 1000 Brussels

Free entrance.
From 10 June to 26 November 2010.

Opening hours:
From Tuesday to Friday from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm. Saturdays from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
In July and August: closed between noon and 1.00 pm and on Saturdays (whole day).
> Click here to see our closing dates and official holidays.

> Click here to download the catalogue.

The book

Roel DE GROOF and Geertrui ELAUT, Europe in Brussels. From Federal World District to Capital of Europe, 1900-2010, Tielt (Lannoo), 2010, 240 p., in four languages (NL-FR-EN-DE)

39.95 €

The book can be bought in every good library and at the National Archives of Belgium. It is also possible to order to via This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (+ shipping costs 5.70 €).

Avec le soutien de la Présidence belge du Conseil de l'Union Européenne /
Met de steun van het Belgisch Voorzitterschap van de Raad van de Europese Unie

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 June 2011 )

[ Back ]