Place Charles Rogier


The Place Charles Rogier or Karel Rogierplein, usually shortened to the Place Rogier, or Rogier by locals, is a major square in the Saint-Josse-ten-Noode municipality of Brussels, Belgium. It is named in honour of Charles Rogier, a former Prime Minister of Belgium who played an important political role during the Belgian Revolution of 1830.
The square is located on the transition between Brussels' historic city centre and the Northern Quarter business district, an exponent of modern Brussels. It is an important communication node in the city both in terms of road network and public transport. Many hotels, offices and shops adjoin it. The Rue Neuve/Nieuwstraat, Belgium's second busiest shopping street, also ends there. It is served by the metro and premetro station Rogier on lines 2, 4, 6 and 10.

History

Early history

The square was originally known as the Place des Nations/Natieplein or the Place de Cologne/Keulenplein. In 1885, following the death of the liberal statesman and former Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Rogier, it was renamed the Place Charles Rogier/Karel Rogierplein in his honour.
Until 1952, the original Brussels-North railway station was located on the Place Charles Rogier. With the commissioning of the North–South connection, this terminus station was replaced, further north, by the current transit station. The old station building was demolished in 1955. The Rogier International Center, also called the Martini Tower, was erected in 1960 on the former site of the station, and housed the National Theatre of Belgium until 1999. The building was demolished in 2001, and replaced by the Rogier Tower.

Redevelopment (2008–2017)

In 2006, the Brussels-Capital Region decided to completely redevelop the square. The renovation lasted from 2008 to 2017, with most of the work carried out between 2013 and 2015. The project was the subject of an international architectural competition, with some of the entrances to the metro station also being opened and renovated.
Above the station, a large parasol-shaped translucent awning was built in 2015 according to plans by the architect Xaveer De Geyter. The construction weighs and has a diameter of.

Location and accessibility

The Place Charles Rogier lies at the conjunction of the Avenue du Boulevard/Bolwerklaan to south with two smaller streets on its northern side: the Rue du Progrès/Vooruitgangstraat and the Rue de Brabant/Brabantstraat. Additionally, two sides streets lead into it from the north-west and north-east: the Rue des Croisades/Kruisvaartenstraat and the Rue Saint-Lazare/Sint-Lazarusstraat.

Notable buildings

The Place Charles Rogier is home to an important architectural heritage: