The Brussels metro is much more than just a means of transport.
Each of its stations is a discreet tribute to significant pages in local, national and even European history. Let’s delve into the sometimes little-known stories that punctuate our daily journeys, and discover together the history behind the names of our metro stations!
Names that span the centuries
In Brussels, metro stations are not only geographical landmarks, they are also witnesses to the past. Behind names like Rogier, Horta or Schuman lie major historical figures: politicians, architects or the founding fathers of Europe. These names recall the capital’s rich and complex history, from its political evolution to its artistic prowess.
Pannenhuis, the station that looks like a forgotten inn
Pannenhuis station perfectly illustrates this link between past and present. Its name comes from the Old Pannen-Huis, a 17thᵉ century inn located in the Esseghem district. The venue has played host to such illustrious figures as Napoleon and Leopold I, and was a hideout for resistance fighters from the Faux Soir newspaper during the Second World War. Today, the station perpetuates the memory of this bygone era, anchored beneath the modern city.
A network that keeps urban memory alive
In addition to personalities, the Brussels metro pays homage to emblematic places – such as the Porte de Hal, the Bourse or the Park – or to key moments in local history. Each name is an invitation to (re)discover Brussels through its history, evolution and heritage. Taking the metro also means strolling through a veritable underground museum, where past and present meet at every stop.
Here’s a more complete list of stations with historic names and their origins:
- Roi Baudouin: Station renamed in 1998 in memory of the Belgian sovereign, after his death.
- Pannenhuis: The name of a historic 17th-century inn, a landmark of significant events.
- Rogier: Named after Charles Rogier, a politician central to Belgian independence.
- Schuman: Named after Robert Schuman, founding father of the European Union.
- Horta: Named after Victor Horta, master of Belgian Art Nouveau.
- Montgomery: Named after British General Bernard Montgomery, liberator of Brussels during the Second World War.
- Louise: Station commemorating Queen Louise-Marie, first Queen of the Belgians.
- Anneessens : In memory of François Anneessens, burgomaster who defended Brussels’ freedoms in the 18th century.
- Porte de Hal: Named after the famous fortified medieval gateway to Brussels. It was one of the gates of Brussels’ second city wall, built in the 14th century and comprising seven gates.
- Alma & Delta – Two neighboring stations symbolizing the duality of two Belgian universities, one Catholic (UCLouvain), the other secular (ULB). The name “Delta” could also refer to the Masonic triangle and the origins of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). As for “Alma” for UCLouvain, this is a simplification of the Latin term “Alma Mater”, which refers to the university’s social and service centre.
- Eddy Merckx – A station exceptionally named in honor of a living sportsman, the famous Belgian cyclist!