The story
If you look up right now, you might see the clouds racing across the face of a skyscraper, their reflections shimmering in panels of blue and silver glass. It feels a world away from the cobblestones and lace shops of the old city center. You are walking through the Northern Quarter, a place where Brussels decided to reach for the sky, and the wide path beneath your feet bears the name of a man who watched this modern landscape take shape.
This is the Boulevard du Roi Albert II, or in Dutch, the Koning Albert II-laan. It is named after Albert II, the sixth King of the Belgians. Born in 1934, Albert was never actually expected to take the throne. He spent decades as the Prince of Liège, living in the shadow of his older brother, King Baudouin. But when Baudouin passed away suddenly in 1993 without an heir, Albert stepped into the role at the age of fifty-nine. He reigned for twenty years, eventually abdicating in 2013 to pass the crown to his son, Philippe.
The city decided to give this street his name around the turn of the millennium, specifically in 1999, as a way to honor the King during his reign and to mark the completion of a major transformation. This stretch was once part of the Boulevard Emile Jacqmain, but as the area evolved into a high-tech business hub, the northern section was renamed to give it a distinct, modern identity.
Today, this boulevard serves as a grand spine for the city’s financial district. It connects the small ring road near the Botanical Garden to the busy hub of the North Station. If you look around, you will see the headquarters of major banks and communication companies, housed in giants like the Proximus Towers or the North Galaxy buildings. It is often called the Manhattan of Brussels. This was a controversial project in the mid-twentieth century because thousands of residents were displaced to make room for these towers, but today it stands as the center of Belgian corporate life.
As you walk, notice how the boulevard isn't just about cold steel; it is surprisingly wide, designed with a sense of ceremony. The King it is named after was known for being a warm, somewhat informal man who had to navigate incredibly complex political tensions to keep the country together. There is a bit of that Belgian balance here, too—modern ambition on a scale that still allows for a bit of a breeze to move between the buildings.
Before you move on to your next destination, try this. Stand still for a moment and look for your own reflection in one of the large glass facades nearby. Notice how the reflection of the older, traditional buildings behind you mixes with the straight lines of the new. It is a perfect snapshot of the two worlds King Albert II bridged during his time on the throne.