Avenue Benjamin Jansen – Benjamin Jansenlaan

Did Benjamin Jansen ever imagine an avenue in Brussels would bear his name? Avenue Benjamin Jansen, a modest 110 meters, stretches between Avenue Henri de Brouckère and Rue Antoine Vandergoten. It’s a quiet street, perhaps easily overlooked. But like the man it honors, this avenue holds a story worth uncovering. Benjamin Louis Jansen, born in Brussels on July 15, 1887, was a bright mind who earned a degree in civil mining engineering. When World War I erupted, he answered the call, serving as a reserve lieutenant in the 1st Telegraph Platoon. He bravely served his country, facing the horrors of war until its bitter end. Just a month before the armistice, on October 3, 1918, near Oostnieuwkerke in West Flanders, a grenade tragically cut his life short. He was just 31 years old. In 1930, the city of Auderghem decided to memorialize this fallen soldier. They commissioned the construction of this avenue, naming it in his honor. Avenue Benjamin Jansen, then, is more than just a street. It’s a quiet testament to a life lost too soon, a reminder of the sacrifices made during wartime. As you stand here, on this peaceful avenue, take a moment to remember Benjamin Jansen. Remember his service, his sacrifice, and the peace he ultimately helped secure.