The covering of the Senne was the covering and later diverting of the main river of Brussels, Belgium, and the construction of public buildings and major boulevards in its place. Carried out between 1867 and 1871, it is one of the defining events in the history of Brussels.
Many unsanitary and unsafe wooden add-ons projected over the river in the lower town.
Jules Anspach and the Senne, editorial cartoon from L'Espiègle, 1868
The beginning of the vaulting and construction of the sewers in 1867
The Boulevard Anspach/Anspachlaan in 1880, etching by Armand Heins from L'Illustration nationale
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country and is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, but is separate from the Flemish Region and the Walloon Region, located less than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the south. Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels saw a language shift to French from the late 19th century. Nowadays, the Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual in French and Dutch, although French is the majority language and lingua franca. Brussels is also increasingly becoming multilingual. English is spoken widely and many migrants and expatriates speak other languages as well.
Image: Grand Place Bruselas 2
Image: Bruxelles Manneken Pis cropped
Image: Cathedrale des Saints Michel et Gudule Bruxelles, Belgium October 31, 2010 panoramio
Image: The Atomium during civil twilight (DSCF1135)