The entire area around the Place Royale and the Park of Brussels was redeveloped in neoclassical style after the serious fire that destroyed the Palace of the Dukes of Brabant in 1731, according to the plans of architect Barnabé Guimard. The current Palace of the Nation was part of this project.
The first stone was laid in 1779, during the reign of Empress Maria-Theresa of Austria. The palace was originally intended as the seat of the Sovereign Council of Brabant, the highest legal and administrative body of the Duchy of Brabant.
Under the French regime (1796 - 1815), courts were seated there. For a few years, part of the current Senate wing even housed a 'Hôtel des Étrangers'. Today we would call this a travellers' hotel.
During the Dutch regime (1815 - 1830), the legislative assembly - the States-General of the Netherlands - met alternately in The Hague and in this building. This was the first time it served as a parliament.
In 1830, the Provisional Government (= the first Belgian government) and the National Congress (= the first constitutional assembly) established themselves in the building. Since 1831, the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate have met here. Since then, the building has been called the 'Palace of the Nation'.
The building was ravaged by fire in 1820 and 1883. Due to these fires and the various purposes it has had since its inception, the building has been continually modified on the inside. The exterior remained virtually untouched. During the restoration around 1920, the plastered and white-painted facade, in accordance with the neoclassical tradition, was chipped off.
Translated by Google •
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