47. Van Eetvelde House

Built between 1895 and 1897 for Edmond van Eetvelde, advisor to King Leopold II and General Secretary of the Congo Free State, this masterpiece by Victor Horta has at its centre a lightwell with a splendid stained-glass dome with delicate metal supports. Extended more than once, the resulting ensemble reflects the evolution of Victor Horta's style. The precious materials from Congo call to mind the historical ties between colonization and Art Nouveau, at one point referred to with the term "Congo style". On the occasion of the year of Art Nouveau in 2023, the Art Nouveau Laboratory acquired accommodation in the van Eetvelde buildings, and the glass canopy was restored. Thus, it is the moment to rediscover this Art Nouveau jewel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.