It was originally commissioned by King Leopold II as part of his building campaign, and was finished in 1897, in time for the Brussels International Exhibition of that year.

Geographically, the Avenue de Tervueren forms a continuation of the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, which ends at the western end of the Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark, running from Merode station in the west, connecting with Square Maréchal Montgomery/Maarschalk Montgomeryplein, passing through the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and the Ring at Quatre Bras/Vier Armen, and finishing at the park in Tervuren.

A tunnel starting just west of the Robert Schuman Roundabout takes the Rue de la Loi's main lane under the Cinquantenaire (with a short uncovered section in the centre of the park), and emerges at Merode as the Avenue de Tervueren's central lane.

Tram route 44 follows a large portion of the Avenue de Tervueren, from Montgomery station all the way to Tervuren.

In past years, the celebration has included fireworks, live music and events such as the cooking of a giant omelette.