The North Passage (French: Passage du Nord) is a covered shopping arcade in the center of Brussels, Belgium. It is located between Nieuwstraat and De Brouckèreplein/Adolphe Maxlaan. Adolphe Maxlaan was called Noordlaan when the arcade was built.
The arcade is built in an eclectic style, decorated with 32 neoclassical caryatids (by the French sculptor Jean-François-Joseph Bertheux) and sculptures and putti (by the Belgian sculptor Constant Albert Desenfants).
Construction of the North Passage began in 1881 under the direction of architect Henri Rieck and the Société Anonyme du Musée et Passage du Nord. The arcade opened and was put into use on May 25, 1882. At that time, the gallery contained 32 shops and a museum consisting of several rooms on the upper floors: an antiques room, an art room, a chemical experiments room, a concert hall, a curiosity room, a skill games room, an industry room, a modern inventions room, and a buffet.[1] There was also a Théâtre Bébé where children and dwarves performed pantomimes. Temporary exhibitions were regularly held, such as the Great Zwans Exhibitions of 1885 and 1887. In 1888, the Musée Castan moved into the Musée du Nord. In addition to a wax museum, it organized scientific entertainment, including freak shows and human zoos.
At the beginning of the 21st century, only 20 shops remained due to several mergers. The museum rooms are used as seminar rooms, a fitness room, and rooms for the Hotel Métropole.[1]
In 1995, the North Passage was designated a historical monument.