In paintings, photographs and postcards: Belgian cities back in the day
In paintings, photographs and postcards: Belgian cities back in the day
Belgium, that’s probably the world’s capital country of comic books, waffles, and chocolate. A country of famous painters such as Magritte, Rubens, van Eyck and Delvaux, and where oil paintings were invented in the 15th century. The birth country of famous writers such as Julio Cortazar and Marguerite Yourcenar, too.
Belgians can brag about having three official languages, but none of them is known as Belgian. There is no such language and depends on which part of the country you in, it is spoken Dutch, French, or German.
This is the country where one can try dozens of different waffles, a trademark food in this part of Europe. And a fierce competition to such title can only be fine Belgian white chocolate. Those crazy about seafood may well seek comfort in Belgian restaurants, where a nice warm dish of mulles is always on the menu.
Belgium is also a country of beautiful cities. The capital city of Brussels accommodates few more national symbols such as the Atomium or the Manneken Pis. The second of the two is probably the world’s most fashionable statue. It is a statue of a little boy and it sits just close to Grand Place in downtown Brussels. Belgians stick to interesting tradition in which they dress the Manneken Pis in different outfit few times a week.
Belgium is of course much more than its capital city of Brussels. Antwerp, Ghent, Burges… each one of them offers equally stunning sights, with sky-piercing cathedrals, and a strange comfort where one can easily make friends with a local just by starting a talk about the weather. Below, a selection of photos in which you can see the cities in their best, and their worst of times.
“View of Antwerp with the frozen Scheldt”, painting by Lucas van Valckenborch (1590).
The city of Antwerp, as seen from the left bank of the Scheldt (ca. 1890-1900)
Painting of Willy Stöwer which depicts the end of the Siege of Antwerp (1914).
Caption from the Belgian smalltown of Durbuy, or as Belgians would rather call it Durbvil.
View on Leuven (Louvain) sometime between 1890-1900). Notice the St. Gertrude Church.
Damage To Leuven, Belgium, 1914. Civilian women pick their way over rubble and debris to reach a group of soldiers standing outside the ruined Hotel de Ville.
Hotel de Ville, the city hall of Leuven, an example of late Gothic architecture built during 1448-1459. The photograph is probably the early 1930s.
Antwerp, its cathedral and the urban smog noticeable in the background. A caption from more modern times. This is 2005. Photo credit: Fuss – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
An engraving found in a private collection, depicting Brussels from the suburb. c 1610.
Brussels on an old postcard. North station and Rogier square.
Brussels stock exchange in the 1920s. This place was the center of the urban tram network.
Brussels. Print shows the Place Royale with a statue of Godfrey de Bouillon and the Church of St. Jacques-sur-Coudenberg. Source: Flickr Commons project, 2009)
Stairway of Tassel House, Brussels
The Grand Place in Brussels, circa 1895
Rendering of the Grote Markt of Brussels during the fire provoked by the bombing of the city by French troops (13-15 August 1695). Prominent buildings on fire are the town hall (left), the belfry (center) and the Broodhuis (right).
Bruges. Jan Baptist van Meunincxhove – The Burg in Bruges
Postcard of Bruges, Belgium showing the Cranenburg House, c. 1905
The city of Mons. Canadians entering Le Grand Place, Mons, 1918.
The Justitiepaleis in Ghent, c. 1895, Photochrom print by Photoglob Zürich, CC BY 2.0
A photo of Ghent from more modern times. It’s February 2013. This is an overview of the Sint-Pieters railway station in Ghent amid major reconstruction effort. Photo credit: Fréderic Louis – Own work, CC BY 3.0
Belgians are also credited for inventing the French fries, and one can easily stumble upon ten different types of potatoes in local supermarkets. Belgian beer? There are thousands to choose from and each one comes with a unique glass on its own. God forbid if you serve a beer and you take the wrong glasses. Favorite Belgian city? It’s really hard to tell at this point, isn’t it?
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