This year it’s 190 years ago since the first train service in Continental Europe was launched. The service ran from a station in what is now the Maximilian Park in Brussels’ North District to Mechelen in Antwerp Province.
When Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 the new country no longer had access to the Dutch waterways. This was crucial for the forwarding of goods through the port of Antwerp. Belgium needed to consider alternatives that would facilitate the transportation of goods over land.
King Leopold I looked to our neighbours across the Channel for a solution to Belgium’s transport needs. There George Stephenson's invention the steam locomotive had enabled the British to construct a railway for the transportation of coal in 1825. Belgium’s first king was won over by the idea of building a railway here and he presented his idea to the Belgian government.
Brussels Groendreef Station
On 1 May 1834, King Leopold I signed the law that established Belgian Railways. A location was quickly sought for what would be the first station on the European mainland.
At the time, the Groendreef was a very fashionable location Brussels’ sophisticates like to stroll around there (see drawing above). Groendreef was a stone's throw from the city centre and next to the Willebroek Canal. In short, it was the perfect place for the station. Brussels Groendreef Station was built. Grand it was not, consisting of little more than a wooden ticket office.
On 5 May 1835, the big day arrived. The railway line between Brussels and Mechelen was opened and the first steam locomotive service in continental Europe ready to depart.
Three trains were ready to depart from Brussels Groendreef Station. Thousands of excited Brussels residents were present to catch a glimpse of the new high-speed means of transport. The King and the inventor of the steam locomotive, George Stephenson were also present. However, Leopold I did not travel on the train himself for safety reasons.
The three trains: De Pijl (The Arrow), Stephenson and De Olifant (The Elephant), carrying 900 passengers, set off for Mechelen. The success of the journey prompted 100,000 people to buy a return ticket to Mechelen in the months that followed.