Boulevard Anspach


Boulevard Anspach or Anspachlaan is a major boulevard in central Brussels, Belgium, connecting De Brouckère Square to Fontainas Square. It bears the name of a former mayor of the City of Brussels, Jules Anspach. Many places of interest lie along Boulevard Anspach, for instance the Brussels Stock Exchange, the Ancienne Belgique concert hall, the Palace cinema, as well as numerous shops and restaurants.
Boulevard Anspach is continued to the north by both Boulevard Emile Jacqmain/Emile Jacqmainlaan and Boulevard Adolphe Max/Adolphe Maxlaan, forming a "Y" crossroad. To the south, it crosses the Place de la Bourse/Beursplein about halfway through, and continues towards Fontainas Square where it becomes Boulevard Maurice Lemonnier/Maurice Lemonnierlaan.
De Brouckère metro station on lines 1 and 5 of the Brussels metro is accessible from Boulevard Anspach, as well as the Bourse/Beurs premetro station.

History

Boulevard Anspach was built between 1868 and 1871 over the river Senne, covering it up, although the river no longer runs underneath it. Prior to 1879, it was named Boulevard Central/Centraallaan, when it was renamed in honour of Jules Anspach, the former mayor of the City of Brussels who instigated these works.
On 4 September 1944, Boulevard Anspach was the scene of great jubilation during the liberation of Brussels by the British Guards Armoured Division. In 1976, as part of the North–South line, the premetro took the place of the river, which was then diverted along the small ring road.
Since 29 June 2015, the boulevard has been pedestrianised between the Place de la Bourse/Beursplein and De Brouckère Square as part of a broader pedestrianisation of Brussels' city centre.

Notable buildings