Cogels-Osylei

In the Belle Epoque district of Zurenborg, many soldiers lived in the past who served in the barracks of the Brialmont fortress. The civilian houses of Zurenborg were usually rental properties from the Zurenborg Construction Company. Soldiers preferred to rent rather than buy a home since they could be transferred to other cities.

At the roundabout of Cogels-Osylei, many senior officers used to reside. The more vases there were on the facade, the more "stars and stripes" the officer had. Small houses of less than 60 square meters were built for the lower-ranking soldiers.

The Cogels-Osylei was built at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century - the Belle Epoque - in styles such as Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, eclectic style, and Neoclassicism.
The famous writer/poet Herman De Coninck, who lived on this street, playfully referred to the district as 'Burenzorg' in his poem 'Home'.

Brackie