Home 6.1. Brussels, administrative city and spy nest ? 6.2. Brussels Park, the heart of national politics6.3. European Brussels6.4. Discussions over new and old places of power6.5. Which governance for Brussels?6.6. Who is in power? Who is who in the Parliament?6.7. Build your own government coalition 6.8. Multiple political mandates6.9. Too many political representatives in Brussels? 6.10. Conclusion

Brussels, administrative city and spy nest?

Activity 2 : Brussels Park, the heart of national politics
Concentration of institutions and powers: a multi-capital city

Brussels already had the function of a capital long before the creation of the Belgian state in 1830, although it was often in competition with other cities, such as Mechelen or Leuven. Brussels therefore played a leading role in the Duchy of Brabant (1183-1482/1795), the seventeen provinces of the Habsburg Netherlands (1482-1556) that later became the Spanish Netherlands (1556-1713), the Austrian Netherlands (1713-1795) and finally the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815-1830).

The Coudenberg Palace, located on what is today the site of the Place Royale/Koningsplein, was the seat of power from the 12th to the 18th century. Oil on canvas attributed to Lucas Gassel, 16th century, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

It was not until 1830 that Brussels became, for the first time, the sole capital of a new state: Belgium. After the Second World War, its role continued to evolve towards that of a multi-capital city. In other words, it became the capital of several separate political entities.

This evolution can be explained by two processes:

  • on the one hand, the "federalisation" of the Belgian State, a transformation that has given rise to the birth of "federated entities" called Regions and Communities that you have already learned about;
  • on the other hand, the "supranationalisation" linked to the development of the European institutions.

On the legislative front, there are now eight parliaments active in Brussels. They are linked to eight different political entities: the European Union, Belgium (Senate and House of representatives), the Flemish Community, the French Community, the Brussels-Capital Region, the French Community Commission (which, as you will see below, consists of the French-speaking members of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region) and finally the Common Community Commission.

Using the animation below, determine which parliaments are present in Brussels.

Parliaments in Brussels

Fragmentation of power 

Part of the complexity of Brussels is due to the gradual federalisation of the Belgian unitary state since 1970. As you have previously learned, two different types of 'federated entities' were created: Regions and Communities.

This development is linked to the fact that in the decades following the Second World War, political decision-makers wished to respond to very different demands: on the Flemish side, a desire for greater control over education and culture, and on the Walloon side, the same desire for control over economic instruments.

Each type of federated entity was accordingly gradually given different powers. Broadly speaking :

  • Regions manage a large part of the issues related to territory, such as the economy, employment, mobility, etc... ;
  • Communities are responsible for people-related aspects (often referred to as "person-related matters") such as education, culture, social policy, etc.

The result is an asymmetrical system because the territories of these "federated entities" overlap with each other to a certain extent. In Brussels, one Region (the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region) and two Communities (the French Community for Francophone policy and the Flemish Community for Flemish policy) are active on the same bilingual territory.

To refresh your memory, don't hesitate to go back to Section 1: Brussels, capital of what?

The contemporary spectacle of power

The various public authorities present in Brussels showcase their power, in particular through the choice and location of their buildings (parliaments, governments, administrations), as well as through symbolic emblems (such as a flag) which they use for communication purposes.

The map below shows you five types of actors present around the Brussels Park, a symbolic political hotspot in Brussels.

1) The historic heart of national politics: the Royal Palace of Brussels in front of the Palace of the Nation (located on the other side of the park and where, as you have already learned, the House and the Senate sit) which is itself in the immediate vicinity of the Prime Minister's office.
2) The expansion of the federated entities (which since the last quarter of the 20th century have become increasingly important in relation to the central state) is also very striking in that area. The Minister-President of the Flemish Region occupies the Errera Hotel, which is located along the Brussels Park and where the Flemish government also has its headquarters, not far from the Grimbergen Hotel, where the government of the Brussels-Capital Region has its headquarters. The Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation is also located along the park, while the Flemish Parliament is located a little further away, behind the Palace of the Nation. Finally, in another corner of the park you will find the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts, a symbol of the scientific and cultural world and home to a French-speaking and a Dutch-speaking section.
3) Other key Belgian figures also chose this prestigious location. This was notably the case for the Société Générale de Belgique/Generale Maatschappij van België founded in 1822, which was for a long time the country's largest holding and investment company. This building is now occupied by BNP Paribas.
4) Major foreign figures (such as the embassies of France and the United States) have logically decided to establish themselves in the immediate vicinity of these places of power, which are not very far from the buildings housing the European Parliament and the European Commission.
5) Finally, the heart of local and regional power is located on the Grand-Place (the authorities of the municipality of Brussels) or close to it (the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region and the Parliaments and assemblies of the Community commissions on Rue du Lombard/Lombardstraat).

On the following map and using the information shared in the previous point, find the following institutions: the Royal Palace of Brussels - the Palace of the Nation - the Flemish Parliament - the Parliament of the French Community - the Academy - the Office of the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Cartography: Société Royale belge de Géographie

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Modifié le: vendredi 30 avril 2021, 10:54