The Great Mosque of Brussels

The Great Mosque of Brussels, located in the Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels, is the oldest mosque in the city. It is also the seat of the Islamic Cultural Center of Belgium.
The original building dates back to 1879 and was designed by architect Ernest Van Humbeeck in "Arabian" style. This Eastern Pavilion was intended for the World Exhibition of 1897, specifically for the Oriental section on Egypt. It was to house the panoramic painting by Émile Wauters, Cairo and the banks of the Nile. This work from 1880-1881 had returned from the burned down Neue Panorama in Vienna and had been stored in a warehouse in Molenbeek. Count Louis Cavens purchased it in 1895 and donated it to the Belgian State after restoration. After the world exhibition, the building was soon closed to the public. It fell into disrepair and the panorama suffered from moisture infiltration. After a new restoration of the panorama in 1923, the pavilion reopened. However, the building was still plagued by moisture issues, and furthermore, the government did not appoint a caretaker, leading to a new period of neglect.

Author: Wikipedia

Tinne Leysen