Picture this. You are standing before the Caserne Dailly a grand building in Schaerbeek. Its imposing facade hints at a rich history. A history filled with soldiers and significant events. This isn’t just any building. It’s the Caserne Dailly.
Originally known as the Caserne Prince Baudouin this impressive structure was built between 1890 and 1894. Architect Otto Geerling designed it in the neo-Flemish Renaissance style. Red bricks and stone make up its striking exterior. It stands as a testament to a bygone era. An era of military might and national pride.
The Caserne Dailly initially housed the 1st Regiment of Carbineers. These soldiers were easily identified by their distinctive green jackets yellow trim and tall waxed cloth hats. Their emblem a hunting horn symbolized their skill and precision. Their weapon of choice a Terssen carbine with bayonet. Imagine the sounds of marching boots echoing through the courtyard. The clatter of weapons during training exercises.
The Carbineers called the Caserne Dailly home for almost 50 years. Their presence was woven into the fabric of Schaerbeek. Young women eagerly anticipated their presence. The soldiers trained near the Caserne or on the vast plain in front of the new National Shooting Range. This range later became the Place des Carabiniers. Life in the Caserne wasn’t always austere. Photos reveal amenities like a barbershop a spacious canteen a games room and a gymnasium. Even Hergé the famous comic book creator spent a year of service here starting in August 1926.
World War I brought a dramatic shift. In late 1914 the regiment left the Caserne Dailly. On August 20 the building’s forecourt witnessed a tense meeting. Brussels’ mayor Adolphe Max met General von Jarotsky. Max tried to prevent German troops from entering Brussels. His efforts were in vain. The Germans occupied the Caserne transforming it into a military hospital.
World War II saw the regiment depart again. This time they never returned. After the war they were stationed in various locations including Knokke Maaseik and Siegen. In 1992 the Carbineer Regiment merged with the Grenadier Regiment becoming the Prince Baudouin Carbineers-Grenadiers Regiment.
The military departed the Caserne Dailly by 1976. Administrative services of the Ministry of Defence occupied it until then. The site remained unused for 20 years. Then in 1996 most of the annex buildings were demolished. The main structure was renovated. Today it houses shops and apartments. A small park and a supermarket occupy the rear. The Théâtre de la Balsamine expanded greatly. The Caserne Dailly continues to be a significant landmark in Brussels. A place where history lives on. A testament to those who served there.