Fancy a trip back in time? Welcome to Terneyveld also known as Tornooiveld a neighborhood in Evere. Terneyveld or Tornooiveld means Tournament Field. Imagine knights clashing swords.
Up until the 18th century this area was a place of execution. Criminals faced their end here by ducal high justice. But Terneyveld is more than just a former execution ground.
Let’s rewind to April 1 1549. Prince Philip son of Emperor Charles V visited the Netherlands. A grand tournament was held in his honor right here at Terneyveld. Philip the future Philip II was 21 years old. He had traveled from Valladolid. He journeyed through Italy. He celebrated Christmas mass in Milan.
From Trent he went to Augsburg. A month later Philip arrived in Luxembourg. Every city greeted him with celebrations as the future ruler. Philip made a stop in Brabant after a triumphant entry into Namur on March 29 1549. His father Emperor Charles welcomed him in Brussels.
Before heading to Flanders Philip stayed in Wavre. He lodged there on Sunday March 30. The next day he traveled to Tervuren. Marie of Hungary Charles V’s sister hosted a banquet at the castle. In the afternoon they made their way to the plains of Evere near Brussels. The queen organized a tournament in Philip’s honor.
The travel report described the area. It called the plain Haren sandy flat and vast. It was ideal for the event. Plus it was on the route to Brussels. This location held symbolic value. It marked the official entry into Brussels territory. Emperor Maximilian traveled by carriage from Mechelen to visit King Charles in Brussels. Arriving half a league from the city he continued on horseback. This added solemnity to his entrance. This likely occurred at Haerenheydeveldt. The field bordered the Leuven road. Dukes of Brabant traditionally used this road for their inaugurations.
Marie of Hungary directed the tournament. Nobles knights and crowds attended. They all wanted to see the prince and his court. Grandstands were built for the occasion. Guests and the court watched the spectacle from these covered galleries.
Today Terneyveld is mainly residential. The area is a rectangle. It is bordered by Rue de Geneve Avenue Henry Dunant Avenue Ciceron and Chaussee de Louvain. The regional land use plan divides Terneyveld into zones. These include residential areas mixed-use zones parks and community facilities.
Houses with gardens and apartments make up the buildings. The apartments are no more than four stories tall. They are surrounded by greenery. Le Home Familial Bruxellois manages social housing here. Most roads are designated as residential zones.
Terneyveld offers social amenities. There is a community center. There are two French-speaking nurseries. The area has schools including both French and Flemish options. There is after-school care music theater and a scout movement. You can find two playgrounds here. Also there are three senior residences.
The neighborhood is part of the Saint-Joseph parish for Catholics. An Arab evangelical church also has a temple here.
Local businesses thrive in Terneyveld. These include banks and a Gresham Belson hotel. A Colruyt supermarket is located in the Evere Paduwa Shopping Center.
Several bus lines serve the area. Villo provides bike-sharing stations.
Several trees in Terneyveld are listed as remarkable trees. These include a hawthorn a rowan a black cherry a Crimean linden a flowering ash a honey locust and a silver maple.
Terneyveld is bordered by several neighborhoods. These include Schaerbeek Astrid and Paduwa-Saint-Joseph.
In the Middle Ages the land belonged to the chapter of Soignies. Godefroid van der Aa challenged this property. During the Renaissance Terneyveld was an execution site. This occurred during the iconoclastic revolt during the Eighty Years’ War.
In the 18th century Archduchess Marie Elisabeth of Austria had a pheasantry here. She built two hunting lodges. In 1709 she straightened the road to Leuven. In the 18th century Terneyveld was known for its high-quality turnips. Chicory farming later became popular in the 19th century. The road to Leuven had denser buildings. From 1874 to 1877 the Brussels cemetery and Avenue du Cimetiere de Bruxelles were built. Workers in brickyards and stonecutters settled nearby.
The Evere Solarium opened in 1934. It closed in 1978. In 1987 it was replaced by the Clos de la Pastourelle development.
After World War II the neighborhood transformed. This was due to population growth and housing shortages. Le Home Familial Bruxellois built the Tornooiveld estate. Its streets are named after objects related to the area’s history. The last brickyard in Evere closed in the early 1960s. It was called Vermeersch.
Terneyveld a place where tournaments once thrilled and executions chilled now offers a peaceful residential life.