Jules Anspach
Encyclopedia
Jules Victor Anspach was a Belgian
politician, best known for his renovations surrounding the covering of the Senne
river. He is buried in the Brussels Cemetery.
Anspach was born in Brussels
into a family of Calvinist Geneva
n origin. His father François (died 1858) served in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. Jules Anspach studied law at the Free University of Brussels
(now split into the Université Libre de Bruxelles
and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
) becoming a Doctor of Laws. As with many Liberals
, Anspach was a Freemason.
Anspach rose rapidly, replacing Fontainas
as Mayor of Brussels in 1863, aged only 34, holding the office until his death. He effected massive changes to the urban landscape of Brussels
, centred on his oeuvre, the covering of the Senne
. His renovations in Brussels paralleled those by Baron Haussmann
in Paris
. The modern city remains largely Anspach's creation in its basic form.
Boulevard Anspach
, the main artery in downtown Brussels, bears his name. It was the central boulevard created by his massive renovations of the city, so it is particularly fitting it be named after him.
Like his father, Anspach was elected to the Chamber of Representatives.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
politician, best known for his renovations surrounding the covering of the Senne
Covering of the Senne
The covering of the Senne was one of the defining events in the history of Brussels. The Senne/Zenne was historically the main waterway of Brussels, but it became more polluted and less navigable as the city grew. By the second half of the 19th century, it had become a serious health hazard and...
river. He is buried in the Brussels Cemetery.
Anspach was born in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
into a family of Calvinist Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
n origin. His father François (died 1858) served in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. Jules Anspach studied law at the Free University of Brussels
Free University of Brussels
The Free University of Brussels was a university in Brussels, Belgium. In 1969, it split into the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel....
(now split into the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
) becoming a Doctor of Laws. As with many Liberals
Liberalism in Belgium
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Belgium. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
, Anspach was a Freemason.
Anspach rose rapidly, replacing Fontainas
André-Napoléon de Fontainas
André-Napoléon Fontainas was a Belgian liberal politician, alderman and burgomaster of Brussels....
as Mayor of Brussels in 1863, aged only 34, holding the office until his death. He effected massive changes to the urban landscape of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, centred on his oeuvre, the covering of the Senne
Covering of the Senne
The covering of the Senne was one of the defining events in the history of Brussels. The Senne/Zenne was historically the main waterway of Brussels, but it became more polluted and less navigable as the city grew. By the second half of the 19th century, it had become a serious health hazard and...
. His renovations in Brussels paralleled those by Baron Haussmann
Baron Haussmann
Georges-Eugène Haussmann, commonly known as Baron Haussmann , was a French civic planner whose name is associated with the rebuilding of Paris...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The modern city remains largely Anspach's creation in its basic form.
Boulevard Anspach
Boulevard Anspach
Boulevard Anspach or Anspachlaan is a major boulevard in the city centre of Brussels, Belgium, connecting the Place de Brouckère to the Place Fontainas. It is named after Jules Anspach, a former mayor of Brussels. It was built over the river Senne, covering it up, although the river no longer...
, the main artery in downtown Brussels, bears his name. It was the central boulevard created by his massive renovations of the city, so it is particularly fitting it be named after him.
Like his father, Anspach was elected to the Chamber of Representatives.
Further reading
- Hall, Thomas, Planning Europe's Capital Cities: Aspects of Nineteenth-century Urban Development. Taylor & Francis, 1997.
- Schuiten, FrançoisFrançois SchuitenBaron François Schuiten is a Belgian comic book artist. He is best known for drawing the series Les Cités Obscures.-Biography:François Schuiten was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1956....
& Benoît PeetersBenoît PeetersBenoît Peeters is a comics writer, novelist, and critic. He has lived in Belgium since 1978.His best-known work is Les Cités Obscures, an imaginary world which mingles a Borgesian metaphysical surrealism with the detailed architectural vistas of the series' artist, François Schuiten...
, Brüsel. Casterman, 1992./ Witte, Els (ed.), De Brusselse negentien gemeenten en het Brussels model/Les dix-neuf communes bruxelloises et le modèle bruxellois. Larcier, 2003.