The Avenue de Tervueren or Tervurenlaan is a major thoroughfare in Brussels, Belgium. It was originally commissioned by King Leopold II as part of his building campaign, and was finished in 1897, in time for the Brussels International Exhibition of that year. Geographically, the Avenue de Tervueren forms a continuation of the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, which ends at the western end of the Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark, running from Merode station in the west, connecting with Square Maréchal Montgomery/Maarschalk Montgomeryplein, passing through the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and the Ring at Quatre Bras/Vier Armen, and finishing at the park in Tervuren. A tunnel starting just west of the Robert Schuman Roundabout takes the Rue de la Loi's main lane under the Cinquantenaire (with a short uncovered section in the centre of the park), and emerges at Merode as the Avenue de Tervueren's central lane. Tram route 44 follows a large portion of the Avenue de Tervueren, from Montgomery station all the way to Tervuren. For much of the distance, it has a dedicated track. The road also has a cycle path for much of its length.

History

This artery, like the Boulevard du Souverain/Vorstlaan, owes much to the initiative of King Leopold II. It was designed in connection with the Brussels International Exhibition of 1897, in order to link the two sites of this event, that of the Cinquantenaire with the glass roofs of its vast iron halls and that of Tervuren with its Palace of the Colonies. The work was carried out by the contractor Edmond Parmentier and was completed in 1897. The Cinquantenaire railway tunnel passes under the Avenue de Tervueren; the 200 m of tunnel located under the avenue and the neighbouring houses have the particularity of having been built at the same time as the avenue, in 1896. The rest of the tunnel was built in stages between 1910, 1911 and from 1924 to 1926.

Events

The annual Festival of the Avenue de Tervueren takes place each May. The road is closed to motor traffic from Merode down to Woluwe Park, market stalls and a flea market are set up and various family attractions and amusements draw crowds. In past years, the celebration has included fireworks, live music and events such as the cooking of a giant omelette. The celebration marks the anniversary of the road's opening.

Notable buildings

The Avenue de Tervueren is home to many buildings in Beaux-Arts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and eclectic styles, as well as the Brussels Tram Museum.

Citations