Ever heard of a street with two names? This is Rue de l’Homme Chrétien also known as Kerstenmannekensstraat. It is a street with a captivating story.
Rue de l’Homme Chrétien – Kerstenmannekensstraat is a street in Brussels. It links Rue des Éperonniers to Rue Duquesnoy. This winding street expanded in the second half of the 16th century.
Originally, it was called “ruelle du Flacon”. It extended Rue du Marché aux Fromages. It joined Rue de la Madeleine. Later, it was absorbed to the east. This happened when Rue Duquesnoy was created in 1846.
Since 1960, Rue de l’Homme Chrétien has been part of the P.P.A. This is the 30/10 “Grand-Place et abords”. The even side of the street is dominated by the Royal Windsor hotel complex. It was built in 1973. The architect was M. Barbier.
On the odd side, you’ll find a simple three-story house. This is number 5. It was built in 1894. The facade is partially coated. It features blue stone elements on the ground floor. A rectangular wooden bow-window sits on neo-Renaissance style brackets.
The name Rue de l’Homme Chrétien comes from a mistranslation. The Flemish name “Kerstenmanneken” means “Christmas child”. The name was already used in 1459. It recalls a weaver. This weaver lived on the street. In 1435, he supposedly restored the procession of the Saint-Sacrement-de-Miracle. Before being named Rue de l’Homme Chrétien, it was called Flessenstraetje which means “small bottle street”.
So, Rue de l’Homme Chrétien – Kerstenmannekensstraat is more than just a street. It is a place where history and culture intertwine. A story of names, transformations, and memories lives on these stones.