Academy Palace
Where the past lives on. - Photography by Reginald Van de Velde.
The seemingly modest building, designed in the Louis XVI style, is today regarded as a prime example of 19th‑century neoclassical architecture. The palace is characterized by its clean geometry, horizontal composition, and rhythmically repeated stylistic elements.
On the west side stands the marble statue of A. Quetelet (1798–1874), a prominent Belgian mathematician, astronomer, and statistician, and permanent secretary of the Theresian Academy (1834–1874)
In the garden of the Palace of the Academies, visitors can discover a number of impressive statues, including this remarkable work. “The Winner of the Stadion Race” is a bronze sculpture created in 1855 by the brothers Théodore and Jean Geefs.
The Lion Gate of the Palace of the Academies at Brussels’ Warande Park is a distinctive 18th-century entrance gate. At the time, it represented a powerful symbol of power, authority, and dignity.
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On the ground floor are four carriage halls, each distinguished by a double row of four Doric columns. These halls are separated by a central octagonal space beneath an elegant coffered ceiling. The spacious central halls formerly served as guard posts
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In the monumental staircase hall, visitors are welcomed by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, founder of the "Académie Impériale et Royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Bruxelles (1772)".
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The ceiling of the Marble Hall, designed in the form of a barrel vault, stands out for its magnificent coffers, adorned with abundant white and gilded stucco work, rhythmically alternating with pediments.
At the top of the Marble Hall, just below the ceiling, reliefs depicting music-making angels draw the eye. These refined sculptures are the work of Jean-Robert Calloigne, a leading Belgian sculptor of the early nineteenth century.
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The Marble Hall takes its name from the rich marble wall cladding in blue-white Belgian marble and luminous white Carrara marble. The harmony of noble materials and refined architectural design gives the hall remarkable acoustics, making it an exceptional setting for concerts.
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Spanning two floors, the Throne Hall is designed as a spacious atrium, fully restored between 1969 and 1976. The ground floor features a semicircular niche, marble walls, and framed doors, while an upper gallery with Corinthian columns, decorative frieze, and cornice highlights the room’s grandeur.
Both the Throne Room and the Marble Room have a remarkable flooring, made from a combination of oak and rosewood, featuring beautiful stylized plant decorations and numerous geometric patterns.
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After the Belgian Revolution of 1830, the Palace of the Academies in Brussels came under Belgian administration. The lavish furniture and artworks of Willem II were returned to the Netherlands and found a new home in Paleis Kneuterdijk in The Hague, where they still convey the grandeur of their original setting.