Are you a fan of Sci-fi and urban nuggets? Users of line 6 of the Brussels metro know it: the Pannenhuis station is without doubt the most beautiful in the entire STIB network. No wonder it’s the most photographed Brussels metro station on social networks! Get out your travel cards and smartphone cameras – Bruxelles Secrète takes you on a tour of this sublime metro station.
The origin of Pannenhuis station’s name
Opened on October 6, 1982, line six station Pannenhuis celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022. But where does its name come from? Does it refer to a key moment in Brussels’ history? Not at all! Pannenhuis actually refers to the “Old Pannen-Huis“, a 17th-century inn in Esseghem. It is said to have played host to many historic events.
Legend even has it that Leopold I, Napoleon and the founders of the resistance newspaper Faux Soir stayed here. Although the historic inn has been completely destroyed, the Pannenhuis metro station is located in the district where it once stood. A fine tribute to our heritage.
Brussels’ most photogenic metro station
Today, the Pannenhuis station – whose stop is located between Belgica and Bockstae – boasts an architectural style and design that has seduced thousands of users. Composed of oval lines, circles and orange-painted stainless steel cones, the station is ideal for urban photography enthusiasts.
The same color, mixed with white, is found in the mosaics on the walls facing the platforms. Descending (or ascending) the escalators after passing through the gantries, visitors can observe the striking play of contrasts created by the light shafts running across the ceiling.
The station’s design is marked by an almost futuristic, cinematic ambience. Its geometrically shaped architectural elements give the station a character reminiscent of a sci-fi spaceship from the 70s. It’s the same architecture that makes photographers happy. Are you ready for this underground journey?