The Stories Behind Brussels Tram Stop Names

Discover the history of behind Brussels tram stop names, from medieval wetlands and vanished inns to royal avenues and 19th century city planning.

This article is a follow-up to an earlier exploration of the names behind Brussels’ 66 metro stations, which showed how even the most familiar stations often hide unexpected stories. After that piece was published, a keen Discovering Belgium reader, Mansur, suggested taking the idea one step further – onto the tram network. So get your ticket and off we go …

Brussels’ tram network does far more than move people from A to B. Every day, thousands of passengers pass through stops whose names quietly preserve fragments of the city’s history: vanished inns, former wetlands, patriotic ideals, royal ambitions, and moments of urban optimism.

This article explores a selection of currently operating STIB/MIVB Brussels tram stop names. Some of them are particularly revealing or intriguing. Some have medieval roots; others in 19th?century city building; and a few in surprisingly playful or poetic language. Together, they show how Brussels’ past continues to shape its everyday geography.

Brussels tram stops named after people

A significant number of Brussels tram stops commemorate individuals who played an important role in Belgian or international history. Some are instantly recognisable; others are quieter reminders of figures whose influence is still embedded in the city’s fabric.

• Albert – Named after King Albert I of Belgium (1875-1934), who reigned from 1909 to 1934 and led the Belgian army during the First World War, becoming a symbol of national resistance and unity.
• Jacques Brel – Named after the Belgian singer-songwriter and actor (1929–1978), internationally celebrated for his powerful, theatrical chansons and lasting cultural influence.
• Da Vinci – Named after Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), the Italian Renaissance polymath whose work as an artist, engineer, and scientist epitomised Renaissance humanism.
• Princess Elisabeth – Named after Princess Elisabeth of Belgium (born 2001), Duchess of Brabant and heir presumptive to the Belgian throne, and the eldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.
• Alphonse XIII – Named after King Alfonso XIII of Spain (1886-1931), who ruled Spain from 1902 until the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931.
• Charles de Brouckère – Named after Charles de Brouckère (1796-1860), a Belgian liberal politician and nobleman who served as Mayor of the City of Brussels.
• Frans Anneessens – The Brussels guild leader (1660-1719) executed on the Grand-Place for defending traditional civic privileges against centralising reforms.
• Victor Horta – Named after Victor Horta (1861-1947), one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement and one of Belgium’s most influential architects.
• Edith Cavell – The British nurse (1865-1915) who worked in German?occupied Belgium during the First World War and was executed for helping Allied soldiers escape.
• Winston Churchill – The British statesman (1874-1965), writer, and wartime Prime Minister during the Second World War.
• Albert Schweitzer – The German theologian (1875-1965), physician, philosopher, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, renowned for his humanitarian work in Africa.
• Astrid – Named for Queen Astrid of Belgium (1905-1935), a Swedish?born queen remembered for her charitable work and enduring popularity.
• Albert II – Named for King Albert II of Belgium (born 1934), who reigned from 1993 until his abdication in 2013.
• Marie?José – Named for Princess Marie-José of Belgium (1906-2001), who became Queen of Italy in 1946 during a reign lasting just 34 days.
• Molière – Named for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière (1622-1673), one of the greatest playwrights in the French language.
• Eugène Defacqz – A Belgian liberal politician (1797-1871), jurist, and member of the National Congress that drafted Belgium’s constitution.
• Lemonnier – Charles Lemonnier was a Belgian liberal politician (1860-1930) and mayor of the City of Brussels.

Accommodation tip near Lemonnier: The rooms of the Yooma Urban Lodge Brussels are decorated with pictures and furniture centered around Franco-Belgian comic books. 

Medieval roots and vanished landscapes

Several tram stop names preserve traces of a Brussels that has long since disappeared:

• Vleurgat likely derives from Middle Dutch and may refer to a muddy opening or marshy passage. Before urbanisation, this area was shaped by water and wetlands, a reality now erased from the modern streetscape but fossilised in the name.
• Boondael / Boondaal originates from a historic hamlet whose name combines a personal name with dal (valley). Although now part of Ixelles, Boondael still carries a distinct village identity reflected in its tram stop.
• Chien Vert / Groene Hond (“Green Dog”) probably recalls a former roadside inn or house sign along the old road to Tervuren. Before street numbers, colourful signs were essential landmarks, and some, like this one, survived in place names long after the buildings themselves vanished.

Accommodation tip near Chien Vert/Groene Hond: “Superb welcome, lovely room and facilities, excellent breakfast and a very comfortable bed” describes B&B Chambre Chocolat

Commerce, control, and the expanding city

As Brussels grew beyond its medieval core, new names reflected trade, taxation, and administration:

• Bascule refers to a weighbridge once used to measure goods entering the city, a reminder of customs duties and economic control at the city’s edges. Over time, the functional term became the name of an entire neighbourhood.
• Bourse / Beurs takes its name from the Brussels Stock Exchange building inaugurated in 1873. The stop reflects the area’s long-standing role as a centre of commerce, finance, and public gathering.
• Botanique / Kruidtuin recalls the Botanical Garden established here in the early 19th century. Although the garden later moved to Meise, the name remains a lasting marker of Brussels’ scientific and cultural ambitions.

Accommodation tip near Bourse/Beurs: The management and staff at Craves Hotel are frequently highly rated as extremely friendly, helpful, and multi-lingual.

Water, green spaces, and urban leisure

Some tram stops point to Brussels’ long tradition of reshaping nature for leisure and prestige:

• Étangs d’Ixelles / Vijvers van Elsene refers to the ponds created in the 19th century as part of a large-scale urban beautification project. Inspired by Parisian models, they transformed a former river valley into one of the city’s most elegant residential areas.
• Hippodrome de Boitsfort / Renbaan Bosvoorde recalls a former horse?racing track that once drew crowds from across Brussels. Even after racing ended, the stop name preserves the site’s recreational past.
• Parc Seny / Seny-Park marks the transformation of a former private estate into public green space, reflecting a broader shift from aristocratic landownership to shared urban parks.

Accommodation tip near Hippodrome de Boitsfort: B&B Le Verger is frequently rated as one of the most beautiful B&Bs in the south of Brussels.

Patriotism, identity, and the 19th century city

The tram network also preserves the language of nation?building and civic pride:

• Patrie / Vaderland (“Fatherland”) reflects the patriotic naming conventions of the 19th century, when public spaces were used to reinforce national identity in the young Belgian state.
• Bienfaiteurs / Weldoeners (“Benefactors”) echoes the era’s emphasis on philanthropy and social reform, particularly in neighbourhoods shaped by middle?class urban expansion.
• Petit Sablon / Kleine Zavel refers to the smaller square near the Grand Sablon, historically linked to craft guilds and later transformed into a neo-Gothic garden celebrating Brussels’ intellectual and cultural heritage.

Accommodation tip near Petit Sablon/Kleine Zavel: The NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon is ideally located near all the main tourist attractions in the centre of Brussels

From commemoration to everyday place names

In some cases, names that began as commemorations have evolved into neutral geographic references:

• Louise / Louiza originally honoured Princess Louise of Belgium, but today the name primarily evokes Brussels’ grand 19th?century boulevard and the boundary between the upper and lower city.
• Montgomery, named after Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, has likewise become synonymous with a major roundabout and transport hub rather than the individual himself.
• Stephanie followed a similar path: once a royal reference, it is now shorthand for a busy junction and fashionable urban axis.

Accommodation tip near Stephanie: The Vintage Hotel is decorated with original vintage furniture and accessories from the 1950s to the 1980s!

Enjoy your trip?

Whether you are a resident or visitor, I hope that this brief list of some of Brussels tram stop names will turn an ordinary tram ride into a journey through time.

Denzil Walton

I created Discovering Belgium in 2011 to share the country’s hidden stories, fascinating places, and remarkable people. Through articles, photography, and audio walks, I share discoveries that reveal Belgium beyond the obvious. Hope you enjoy this site.