Great Mosque of Brussels

The Great Mosque of Brussels

The Great Mosque of Brussels is the oldest mosque in the Belgian capital and also the location of the Islamic and Cultural Center of Belgium. It is situated at the northwest corner of the Cinquantenaire Park.

The original building of the Great Mosque of Brussels was an Arabian-style structure designed by architect Ernest Van Humbeek. It served as the Oriental Pavilion during the National Exhibition held in Brussels in 1880. At that time, the pavilion housed the highly successful commemorative mural, the Panorama of Cairo. However, throughout the 20th century, the building fell into disrepair due to lack of maintenance. In 1967, King Baudouin I of Belgium offered the building as a gift to King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who was paying an official visit to Belgium at the time, suggesting it be used as a place of worship for the country’s growing Muslim community.

As a result, the Great Mosque of Brussels was rebuilt with investment from Saudi Arabia, designed by Tunisian architect Boubaker, and inaugurated in 1978. The inauguration ceremony was attended by King Khalid of Saudi Arabia and King Baudouin of Belgium. Today, the mosque houses a school and an Islamic research center dedicated to the dissemination of the Islamic faith. The center also offers Arabic language courses for both adults and children, as well as introductory courses on Islam.

Great Mosque of Brussels

Must-visit reason: The oldest mosque in Brussels

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Belgium[Belgium]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Brussels-Capital Region [Brussels-Capital Region]

City where the attraction is located: Brussels [Brussels]