Brussels

Some of the key events about Brussels

• 1695

  French troops bombarded the city, destroying a third of its buildings
• 1830

  Brussels became the capital of the newly independent Belgium
• 1847

  The Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert, Europe's first covered shopping arcade, opened
• 1893

  The Art Nouveau movement flourished, transforming the city's architecture
• 1897

  The Palais de Justice, one of the largest buildings constructed in the 19th century, was completed
• 1914

  German forces occupied Brussels during World War I
• 1940

  Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Brussels during World War II
• 1958

  Brussels hosted the World's Fair, introducing the iconic Atomium structure
• 1958

  A major fire destroyed the World's Fair exhibition hall, injuring dozens
• 1967

  NATO headquarters was established in Brussels
• 1967

  A devastating fire at the Innovation Department Store killed 322 people
• 1977

  The European Economic Community (precursor to the EU) made Brussels its provisional headquarters
• 1985

  The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred, resulting in 39 deaths and hundreds of injuries
• 1989

  The Brussels-Capital Region was formed, granting the city more autonomy
• 2000

  Brussels was designated as one of the European Capitals of Culture
• 2009

  The Magritte Museum opened, showcasing the world's largest collection of the surrealist artist's works
• 2016

  Coordinated terrorist attacks at Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station killed 32 civilians
• 2017

  A failed terrorist attack occurred at Brussels Central Station
• 2018

  Brussels experienced severe flooding due to heavy rainfall, causing significant damage
• 2020

  Brussels was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to lockdowns and economic hardship

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.