Square Louis Van Simaey – Louis Van Simaeysquare

Hidden within Auderghem lies Square Louis Van Simaey. This quiet square holds a poignant story. It’s a tale of wartime sacrifice and community remembrance. Square Louis Van Simaey isn’t just a collection of houses. It’s a memorial to a local hero. In the 1950s, the company Les Habitations et Logements à bon marché (HLBM) built a second garden city in Auderghem. This included four houses tucked between Avenue du Grand Forestier and a private path. These houses, initially addressed as numbers 29, 29a, 30, and 30a on Avenue du Grand Forestier, proved difficult for suppliers to locate. So, in the early 1960s, the council decided to give this little area its own identity. They named it Square Louis Van Simaey, after a World War II hero. The houses then received new addresses: numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 Square Louis Van Simaey. But who was Louis Van Simaey? Louis Edouard Denis Van Simaey, born in Écaussinnes-d’Enghien on June 25, 1914, lived at 50 Avenue Théo Vanpé in Auderghem. He served as a sergeant during World War II. Sadly, he died as a prisoner of war in Hamburg, Germany, on January 15, 1944. Square Louis Van Simaey stands as a quiet tribute to his sacrifice. It’s a place where the past whispers through the rustling leaves and the gentle murmur of daily life. So, as you stand here, take a moment to remember Louis Van Simaey. Remember the sacrifice he made and the community that chose to honor his memory in this unique way. Square Louis Van Simaey is more than just a square. It is a tangible piece of local history, a memorial woven into the fabric of Auderghem.