Square Félix Vande Sande - Félix Vande Sandesquare

Square Félix Vande Sande is a small, triangular square in Koekelberg, one of the smallest municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region. It sits just behind Simonis station, bordered by Rue de l'Armistice and Rue Herkoliers, with Rue Félix Vande Sande extending from it. It is the kind of place easily overlooked while rushing between the metro station and nearby shops, yet it carries a piece of Koekelberg's local history stretching back more than a century.

Where does the square's name come from?

The square was laid out in 1910 and received its current name in 1912, in tribute to Félix Vande Sande. Born in 1824 in Mechelen, he died in 1890 in Koekelberg itself. He was a dramatist who devoted much of his life to promoting and defending the status of the Flemish language and culture at a time when French dominated public life in Belgium. Naming a square after him in the municipality where he spent his final years was a natural gesture of recognition for his work.

What is the bust displayed on the square?

In 1924, on the occasion of the centenary of Félix Vande Sande's birth, a public subscription was organized to fund the creation of a bust in his honor. That bust still adorns the square today, forming a physical link between present-day Koekelberg and the figure it is named after. Monuments financed through resident subscriptions were a common way of honoring local cultural figures during that era.

How has the square changed over time?

Although the square itself dates back to 1910, its current layout was designed in 1984. This means that over the decades, the space was reshaped to meet the evolving needs of local residents — from its original creation more than a century ago, through the interwar period when the bust was installed, to the redesign in the 1980s that gave the square the appearance it has today.

Where exactly is it located?

Square Félix Vande Sande sits at the heart of Koekelberg, right next to Simonis station, one of the more important transport hubs on the border between Koekelberg and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. The triangular shape of the square is defined by Rue de l'Armistice and Rue Herkoliers, while on the opposite side it flows naturally into Rue Félix Vande Sande, named after the same figure.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Félix Vande Sande? He was a dramatist born in 1824 in Mechelen and who died in 1890 in Koekelberg, known for his commitment to defending and promoting the Flemish language and culture.

When was the square created? The square was laid out in 1910 and given its name in 1912.

What does the bust on the square commemorate? The bust, funded in 1924 through a public subscription marking the centenary of Vande Sande's birth, commemorates his life and legacy.

How do you get to the square? The easiest way is on foot from Simonis station (metro and rail), which sits right next to the square.