CalendAr Belgium 2026

 TRANSLATIONS OF THE TEXTS

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WAS IT BETTER BEFORE? REALLY?

You might think so, judging by old postcards: so many beautiful buildings that have disappeared, so many charming, quiet streets that are now clogged with cars. True, but pre-1914 Belgium was no paradise, far from it! Poverty, unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, insecurity and foul odours were part of daily life for a large part of the population.

BUT WHY WAS SO MUCH DEMOLISHED?

It's simple: because that's how it's always been done! In the past, no one cared about preserving historic buildings: when necessary, it was standard practice to demolish and rebuild on the existing foundations.

It was only in the 19th century that people slowly began to realise the heritage value of certain buildings.

But in large industrial centres, particularly Charleroi and Liège, pressure from the property market, the urgent need for post-war reconstruction and the demands of industry were stronger than elsewhere. Namur, Tournai and small Flemish towns, for example, have retained more of their original appearance. Although it is now at the forefront of architectural innovation, Flanders has long remained conservative in this area. Bruges and Ypres are proof of this.

MAIN CAUSES OF DEMOLITION

The demolition of buildings in Belgium since 1900 can be explained by several factors. I will focus on four in particular.

1/ Destruction as a result of wars and fires

The two world wars destroyed dozens of railway stations, churches and public buildings, hundreds of factories and tens of thousands of homes. Most of the housing was rebuilt, sometimes in a harmonious architectural style suited to the neighbourhood, such as those on the Grand-Place in Tournai; in other cases, urgency, the need for efficiency and the modernism of the 1950s took precedence. Even today, some buildings are still an eyesore. In the case of fires, reconstruction was carried out on a case-by-case basis, often in a uniform style.

2/ Urban development

The priorities for post-war reconstruction were housing and industry. But in the prosperity of the 1950s, renovation and extension projects sprang up like mushrooms: roads and motorways, administrative buildings, stations, car parks, modern towers, etc.

3/ Dilapidation, danger, safety standards 

Concern for human life, which is taken for granted today, was not always the case in the past. There were no safety standards or mandatory fire inspections. Many buildings remained standing only by habit or by miracle. This changed over the decades with the introduction of increasingly stringent standards. Owners had to either renovate or demolish and rebuild their properties.

4/ Property pressure and speculation

In certain regions of the country, particularly large cities and coastal areas, demand for housing far exceeded supply. This was a boon for property developers, who built at a frenetic pace, replacing old buildings with much more functional and comfortable ones, but above all with high rental yields.

BUILDINGS OFTEN AFFECTED BY DEMOLITION

·         Industrial buildings: factories, warehouses, stations and railway facilities.

·         Public buildings: schools, swimming pools, town halls.

·         Residential buildings: dilapidated houses and dwellings, especially in cities.

·         Cultural or social buildings: theatres, cinemas, community centres, workers' clubs.

LEGENDS CALENDAR 2026 BELGIUM

1.      The postcard shows how badly Ypres (Ieper) was damaged during the First World War, before being completely rebuilt. The tens of thousands of tourists who visit it every year cannot help but be charmed by this small town, which combines tranquillity and dignity. It has become much more attractive!

2.      The charming castle-like building illustrated on the postcard was the home of the lock keeper at Petit Paradis, which gave its name to this district of Liège. In the meantime, the course of the Meuse has been rectified, a marina has been built and the new TEC tram has been inaugurated. The area has regained its former tranquillity!

3.      This is the "Grognon" in Namur, the site of the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, the Walloon Parliament (in red brick) and the citadel. It has undergone decades of very disruptive construction work. Now that the work is finished, it has been accepted and forgotten, because today we can only appreciate the result: it's better now!  But who remembers the local tramway bridge, built in 1896 and demolished in 1933?

4.      Frequently damaged by military bombing, railway stations often reflect changes in society – think of those in Antwerp, Liège or Mons. Here we see the station in Hasselt, which dates from the mid-1960s. The differences are striking. But what is most surprising is the curious structure at the end of the platforms: the bold new Hasselt Courthouse.

5.      Meir Square in Antwerp is unrecognisable. The cathedral tower is now hidden by concrete buildings typical of the 20th century, including, of course, the KBC tower – called Boerentoren, because it was built by the Boerenbond. In 1932, it was the tallest skyscraper in Europe. Everything has changed here... except the (tourist) tram!

6.      A real eyesore in the centre of Brussels, the ugly Leopold II viaduct was built for the 1958 World's Fair. It has been dismantled and replaced by a tunnel, renamed Annie Cordy. It's great to see how urban planning has evolved for the better. On a car-free Sunday, which gives the Place de l'Yser a bucolic feel, we think to ourselves that things are better now!

7.      Strangely enough, casinos are often subject to major transformations, or even demolition and reconstruction. In Ostend, the contrast between the old and the new is striking: everything has changed! In terms of style, we think it's a step backwards. But what is most surprising is probably the crowd dressed in their Sunday best gathered along the seafront.

8.      To believe that Bouillon has hardly changed in a century is to jump to conclusions. Daily life, now focused on tourism, has little in common with that of Bouillon at the end of the 19th century, which was a large, industrious town. The right bank was home to numerous factories and ironworks, all of which have now disappeared.

9.      The transformation/renovation of the Pont des Trous in Tournai has been the subject of much discussion. This was understandable, given what it used to be and what it represents for the people of Tournai. It has been radically transformed and the surrounding area has been redeveloped, so much so that there are few critics of this project. Yes, it is better now!

10.  The Grand Beguinage of Mont Saint-Amand in Ghent was built in the fields in 1874 to accommodate the beguines from the old Sainte-Élisabeth beguinage. These ladies, who lived soberly but without firm religious commitment, left their mark on their era but are now nothing more than a distant memory. The buildings themselves, however, have not changed: the site is very peaceful.

11.  The Pont-Neuf in Charleroi, illustrated on the postcard, seems to be as idyllic as it is poetic. It disappeared when the Sambre river was filled in on the orders of Mayor Joseph Tirou. Curiously, no one saw fit to rename the street, which is still called "du Pont-Neuf". It is crossed by the Charleroi light rail system. So, was it better before?

12.  Was it really better before? Above, a postcard of the Old Market (Oude Markt) in Leuven, which was a very quiet square at the time. Below, the same site during the end-of-year illuminations. It hides its scars well: it was ravaged during the First World War, then skilfully rebuilt. A hub for cafés and restaurants, it is a hotspot for student parties in Leuven.