Curious about a district named after a breaking wheel? That’s La Roue Het Rad in Anderlecht. This is one of Brussels’ main garden cities. La Roue Het Rad offers a glimpse into an early 20th-century working-class neighborhood.
La Roue Het Rad means “The Wheel” in French and Dutch. It’s located in the southern part of Anderlecht. This area stands as one of the municipality’s largest districts. Construction took place between 1907 and 1928.
The name La Roue Het Rad comes from a place that recalls the erection of a torture wheel. In the Middle Ages, the old hamlet of Aa was east of this district. To the south was the manor house of Aa the Waesbroeck castle.
The district is crossed by the last part of the Chaussée de Mons Bergensesteenweg in Brussels. It is bordered to the east by the Brussels Charleroi Canal. To the south lies the Flemish municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. Metro stations Bizet, La Roue Het Rad, and CERIA COOVI serve the district on line 5.
Around 1922 a square was named after La Roue Het Rad. The name comes from a 17th-century cabaret. A small hamlet grew around it. Then in the early 20th century a garden city developed.
Between 1850 and 1900, the population of Brussels tripled. The Senne River was vaulted for sanitary reasons. Heavy real estate pressure also played a role. The garden cities are remarkable for their historical, architectural, urban, and sociological significance. Two primary schools were created. Also a gymnasium and public showers were built. Small alleys allowed coal transport to the rear of the houses.
Points of interest include the Church of St Joseph. It is an Art Deco Roman Catholic church built in 1938–39. Also here is the Food and Chemical Industries Education and Research Center CERIA COOVI. You can also find the headquarters of Coca-Cola Belgium and Luxembourg here.
La Roue Het Rad is divided into two sectors. “Bizet” is the upper part of the district. It is quite dynamic with shops and schools nearby. “Colombophiles” is the lower part. It is greener bordering the railway and the CERIA campus.
Consider La Roue Het Rad a step back in time. Here you witness the vision of a working-class neighborhood from a century ago. A place where history and community intertwine.