Brussels’ Golden Age: 1908 in Vibrant Color!

This mesmerizing colorized footage transports you to Brussels, Belgium’s capital, in 1908—over a century ago—revealing the city’s regal splendor under King Leopold II, who reigned until his death on December 17, 1909. Watch as horse-drawn carriages and early electric trams glide past iconic landmarks like the Brussels Stock Exchange, Jubelpark, the ornate Town Hall on Grote Markt, the majestic Cathedral, the King’s Palace, the towering Palace of Justice, and the wooded outskirts, all in vivid hues. The film culminates in a tram ride (Line 44, still operational) to the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervueren, built for Leopold II’s Congo Free State showcase at the 1897 International Exposition. A dazzling window into a pre-automobile, pre-EU Brussels, this restored archive grips history buffs, cultural enthusiasts, and travel lovers, offering a breathtaking glimpse of a city on the cusp of modernity.