Ever walked down a street that whispered stories of the past? Rue Emile Idiers in Auderghem beckons you to listen. This unassuming street in Brussels holds a vibrant history. It’s a short street only about 150 meters long. It stretches from Chaussée de Wavre to Avenue de la Sablière.
Before its current name the street was known as sentier number 38. This was in 1843 according to the Atlas des Communications Vicinales. Back then it ran alongside a small tributary of the Woluwe River. Locals called it Langegrachtdam meaning “dam or path of the large ditch”. The path extended beyond the present Rue Emile Steeno all the way to Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.
A small industrial area began to develop along this path. By 1870 Emile Idiers’ calico dyeing works stood here. He also processed cotton. A college report even mentions a clandestine soap factory operating on the same path then called Impasse des Fabriques.
Imagine the scene. The dye works discharged wastewater into the Woluwe River. Downstream laundresses found their clean clothes mysteriously dyed. The stream took on all the colours of the rainbow. The path became known as Rue aux Mille Couleurs the street of a thousand colours.
The street remained narrow until 1922. It was widened that year. They decided to name it after Emile Idiers a former alderman of Auderghem. He left a lasting legacy. A legacy you can almost feel walking this vibrant street today. Rue Emile Idiers is more than just a street. It’s a living testament to Brussels’ rich past. It is a place where history and industry have intertwined to create a unique and fascinating space. A street that has seen it all. And one that continues to evolve.