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La Colonne du Congrès et de la Constitution or in English The Congress Column was Erected between 1850 and 1859, and designed by architect J. Poelaert with the collaboration of five sculptors, this monument inspired by the Trajan column celebrates the 1830 National Congress that promulgated the Belgian Constitution. It glorifies Belgium’s independence (allegories of the Fundamental Rights, of the Nation’s nine provinces, trophies, blazons, dates, names and other ounding texts). This 25-meter columns topped by a statue of King Leopold I by sculptor J. Geefs. The Unknown Soldier was buried beneath it on November 11, 1922.

Location of the Congress Column :

Agrandir le plan

Photos of La Colonne du Congrès et de la Constitution from a distance

Just under looking at the top. But who’s all the way up there ?

Ah, it’s King Leopold I at the top of the column

Pedestal of the Congress Column

Engraved details of the column with inscriptions of all provinces

Four Statues of women are at its base this one represents the Liberty of association

L’union fait la force (Strength Through Unity) the National Motto

Statue representing Religious freedoms

More column details

Freedom of the press and education statues

Place des Martyrs or Martyrs square was completed in 1775 on a spot that used to be filled with green grass where drapers came to lay their fabrics to dry.

This statue is to remember and honor the death of the 455 patriots who died a Martyrs death in the 1830 uprising

The four angels that surround the statue are there to look after them in their eternal resting place

Here is the monument to Count Frédéric de Mérode

He was wounded near Bercherm in 1830 and later died of his wounds