National Bank of Belgium
Address Boulevard de Berlaimont
City/Neighborhood Brussels
Style(s)
- International
Original use
- Official building
Year 1948
Architect(s) and/or artist(s)
- Van Goethem Marcel
Monumental building, designed before World War II by architect Marcel Van Goethem, but built from 1948. The completion of the work took 10 years. The building, which is 200 m long, has a remarkable Modernist facade, made up of a large regular colonnade, softened on both sides by two rotundas decorated with two bronze statues of women resting on square columns. On the south side, a "seated woman", sculpted by Georges Grard, and at the other end a "kneeling girl" who has become the symbol of the National Bank , designed by Charles Leplae.
The side facades are also decorated with medallions representing coin effigies.
The central portal is decorated with three beautiful figures in aluminum created by Marcel Rau, a great creator of coin money.
The building caused a lot of controversy when it was created, considered pharaonic, due to its size and huge cost ... today it remains a strong symbol of Brussels. Since 2019, banknotes are no longer printed here.
The BNB is the administrative and national currency transfer, recycling and redistribution headquarters.
BRU43 - Unless otherwise stated © www.admirable-facades.brussels for all photos