Boulevard Adolphe Max

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Boulevard Adolphe Max (in French)
Adolphe Maxlaan (in Dutch)
Immeuble Adolphe Vanderheggen - 2043-0229-0.JPG
Narrow, triangle-shaped building on the Boulevard Adolphe Max/Adolphe Maxlaan
Boulevard Adolphe Max is located in Brussels
Boulevard Adolphe Max
Location within Brussels
LocationCity of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
QuarterMarais–Jacqmain Quarter
Coordinates50°51′13″N 04°21′20″E / 50.85361°N 4.35556°E / 50.85361; 4.35556Coordinates: 50°51′13″N 04°21′20″E / 50.85361°N 4.35556°E / 50.85361; 4.35556
Construction
Completion1867–1871

The Boulevard Adolphe Max (French) or Adolphe Maxlaan (Dutch) is a central boulevard in Brussels, Belgium. It bears the name of a former mayor of the City of Brussels, Adolphe Max (1869–1939).

The Boulevard Adolphe Max is located between the Place de Brouckère/De Brouckèreplein and the Place Charles Rogier/Karel Rogierplein, in the extension of the Boulevard Anspach/Anspachlaan. It runs parallel to Brussels' busiest shopping street, the Rue Neuve/Nieuwstraat. It is served by the metro and premetro (underground tram) stations De Brouckère (on lines 1, 3, 4 and 5) and Rogier (on lines 2, 3, 4 and 6).

History[]

The Boulevard Adolphe Max was built between 1867 and 1871, as part of the North–South Axis, which was created after the covering of the river Senne.[1][2] To stimulate the new boulevard's development, an architectural competition was organised. The first prize was awarded in 1876 to the Maison des Chats or Hier ist in den kater en de kat (loosely, "House of Cats") by the architect Hendrik Beyaert.[3] The boulevard was originally named the Boulevard du Nord/Noordlaan ("North Boulevard"), since it led to the old North Station on the Place Charles Rogier.[4] In 1919, it was renamed in honour of the then-mayor of the City of Brussels, Adolphe Max (1869–1939).

Cheering civilians ride on Cromwell tanks as British troops enter Brussels, 4 September 1944

Until the Second World War, the Boulevard Adolphe Max was one of the liveliest streets in Brussels, with renowned shops, typical Brussels cafés and an impressive number of cinemas. On 4 September 1944, it was the scene of great jubilation during the liberation of Brussels by the British Guards Armoured Division. From the 1970s, however, the area entered a period of urban decay. Almost all the old shops disappeared, and in their place, souvenir shops, snack bars and sex shops opened. The luxurious Hotel Le Plaza, located on the boulevard, also closed its doors in 1976. Since 1976, the North–South line of the Brussels premetro has run underneath the boulevard. The reopening of Le Plaza in 1998 marked the beginning of a certain revival. By the turn of the 21st century, only a few sex cinemas remained. The last one, the ABC, closed in 2014.

In recent years, the introduction of one-way traffic on the side near the Place de Brouckère has reduced the traffic volume considerably. There are also currently plans to renovate the Boulevard Adolphe Max and its surrounding streets, as part of the broader revitalisation of the city centre.[5]

Notable buildings[]

The Boulevard Adolphe Max is home to many buildings in neoclassical, Beaux-Arts, Art Deco and eclectic styles. Some examples include:

  • No. 1–3: Maison des Chats or Hier ist in den kater en de kat (1874) by Hendrik Beyaert[3]
  • No. 5–9: Hotel Atlanta (1925–1929) by Michel Polak[6]
  • No. 11–17: Maison Thonet (1872), eclectic apartment building by Félix Laureys[7]
  • No. 104: Marivaux theatre, original neoclassical building (1873) by D.G. Marinus, Art Deco redesign (1923) by G. Hubrecht[8]
  • No. 118–126: Hotel Le Plaza (1928), Art Deco hotel and cinema by Alfred Hoch and Michel Polak[9]
  • Maison des Chats or Hier ist in den kater en de kat (Beyaert, 1874)

  • Hotel Atlanta (Polak, 1925–1929)

  • Maison Thonet (Laureys, 1872)
  • Marivaux theatre (Marinus, 1873 and Hubrecht, 1923)
  • Hotel le Plaza (Hoch and Polak, 1928)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Demey 1990, p. 65.
  2. ^ Map of Suys' Proposal. City Archives of Brussels: P.P. 1.169
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bruxelles Pentagone - Hier is\'t in den Kater en de Kat - Boulevard Adolphe Max 1-3 - BEYAERT Henri". www.irismonument.be. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  4. ^ Eggericx 1997, p. 5.
  5. ^ "Preliminary design for the reconstruction of the Boulevard Adolphe Max and surroundings". www.brussels.be. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  6. ^ "Hôtel Atlanta – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  7. ^ "Bruxelles Pentagone - Boulevard Adolphe Max 11-13-15-17 - LAUREYS F." www.irismonument.be. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  8. ^ "Bruxelles Pentagone - Theatre Marivaux (1922) / Marivaux (1967) - Boulevard Adolphe Max 104-106 - Rue Saint-Pierre 17-19-21-23-25 - MARINUS D.G." www.irismonument.be. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  9. ^ "Bruxelles Pentagone - Hotel Plaza - Boulevard Adolphe Max 118-126 - Rue de Malines 29-31 - Rue Saint-Pierre 37-39 - HOCH Alfred". www.irismonument.be. Retrieved 2018-12-16.

Bibliography[]

  • Demey, Thierry (1990). Bruxelles, chronique d’une capitale en chantier (in French). I: Du voûtement de la Senne à la jonction Nord-Midi. Brussels: Paul Legrain/CFC. OCLC 44643865.
  • Eggericx, Laure (1997). Bruxelles, ville d'Art et d'Histoire (in French). 20: Les Boulevards du Centre. Brussels: Centre d'information, de Documentation et d'Etude du Patrimoine.


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