Rue Docteur Kuborn – Dokter Kubornstraat

In 1890, a vision took shape for the Quartier de Cureghem in Anderlecht. Rue Docteur Kuborn – Dokter Kubornstraat, as we know it today, was just a glimmer in the eye of road inspector Victor Besme. His “Plan de l’extension du Quartier de Cureghem” aimed to transform the area around the Veterinary School. Approved by Royal Decree in 1891, the plan set in motion the creation of Rue Docteur Kuborn – Dokter Kubornstraat, linking Rue des Deux Gares and Rue des Goujons, with Rue des Marchandises intersecting it. But the street’s origins are even older. Part of Rue Docteur Kuborn – Dokter Kubornstraat traces the path of a forgotten lane. Known as Mierenweg or Chemin des Fourmis, and later as Rue Verte, this old road connected the Nieuwmolen, a watermill on the Senne River, to what would become Rue des Goujons. This mill, sadly lost to time in the 1950s, stood near where the Petite Senne flowed under the western railway bridge. Initially named Rue du Nieuwmolen after the mill, the street received its current name on April 11, 1911. It honors Jean-Pierre-Hyacinthe Kuborn (1828-1910), a physician specializing in medical topography. Imagine the early days of Rue Docteur Kuborn – Dokter Kubornstraat. A few buildings stood on the even-numbered side, flanking the long wall of the former Veterinary School. Numbers 2 and 4 still stand today. Number 4, a recessed workshop, was built for an airplane manufacturer in 1910, a testament to the era’s burgeoning technological advancements. The odd-numbered side, once home to industrial buildings, has seen significant redevelopment. A modern housing complex now graces the corner of Rue des Marchandises, a striking contrast to the street’s industrial past. Rue Docteur Kuborn – Dokter Kubornstraat whispers a tale of transformation. From a humble pathway alongside a river to a vital artery in a bustling urban landscape, it embodies the ever-evolving spirit of Anderlecht.