A royal legacy it boasts. This is the Bruxelles Royal Yacht Club. Established in 1906 it’s Brussels’ oldest nautical club. Its story is intertwined with the Belgian monarchy. King Leopold II’s ambitious canal expansion in 1900 brought many yachts to Brussels. This inspired a group to form the Yachting Club de Bruxelles.
Initially they lacked a permanent home. That changed in 1909. They acquired 2200 square meters next to a basin. This basin was originally intended for Leopold II’s royal yacht the Alberta. Sadly the yacht never arrived in Brussels. After the King’s death a royal donation transferred the basin to the nation.
The Yachting Club seized the opportunity. They secured a lease in 1910. This lease has been renewed roughly every 20 years. They also invested in a floating hangar. King Albert I visited their facilities in 1910. These were only meters from the Royal residence. The club needed a clubhouse. They cleverly repurposed the Alfa Laval pavilion from the 1910 World’s Fair. This housed their growing 300 members and their concierge.
In 1912 the club’s president requested King Albert I’s patronage. The King granted it. Thus the Yachting Club de Bruxelles became the Bruxelles Royal Yacht Club. Today the BRYC is much more than just a club. It hosts a sailing school. It is also home to the 75th Sea Scouts. Its clubhouse was rebuilt in 1936 after a devastating fire. Its flooring originated from Sir Thomas Lipton’s yacht the Erin. The clubrooms and wall panels are from the steamships Princesse Marie-José and Prince Leopold. The Bruxelles Royal Yacht Club is the largest marina in French-speaking Belgium. It organizes numerous events on land and at sea. It continues to thrive as a testament to its rich history. A symbol of Brussels’ maritime spirit and royal heritage.