Didn’t two streets become one? This is the story of Rue Jules Besme. It is also known as Jules Besmestraat. This Brussels street in Koekelberg has a tale.
Rue Jules Besme links Pantheonlaan to Karreveldlaan. It crosses Segherslaan in its course. King Leopold II wanted to enhance Brussels. He planned to urbanize Koekelberg’s plateau. Victor Besme proposed extending Antwerpselaan. He wanted it to reach Koekelberg’s plateau. This happened in 1862. Victor was an inspector of Brussels’ suburbs.
Royal decree came on August 10, 1864. It approved the future Leopold II boulevard. Extending this boulevard was key. It would create a new district on Koekelberg’s plateau. Several plans emerged for Koekelberg’s Royal Quarter. Victor Besme’s new plan was adopted on July 28, 1880. It featured a vast park. This park extended Leopold II boulevard. A national pantheon would crown its highest point. Elegant curved avenues bordered the park. Straight streets like Rue Jules Besme flanked it. They formed a fishbone pattern symmetrically. The plan covered Koekelberg, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Jette and Ganshoren. Koekelberg and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean needed revised borders. These were fixed on March 3, 1890.
Initially, the street was named Besmestraat. This honored inspector Victor Besme. He lived from 1834 to 1904. In 1915, confusion arose with Besmelaan in Vorst. So it was renamed Rue Jules Besme. This recognized Victor Besme’s nephew. Jules Besme lived from 1855 to 1926. He too had a great career. He oversaw Koekelberg as a commissioner.
Rue Jules Besme developed between 1898 and 1960. This happened gradually from Pantheonlaan towards Karreveldlaan. Modest homes stood beside grander houses. Number 7 from 1898 is an example. Apartment buildings also appeared. Several modest houses built in 1899 exist here. These were for the company “Le Bien de famille”. They are in the first section of the street. These homes have undergone significant changes. Several workshops were also built. They were inside the block’s interior. Number 120 shows an example. Rue Jules Besme is 587 meters long. Its numbers range from 1 to 175. This is on the odd side. The even side ranges from 2 to 166.