It is named after Jan Breydel, a legendary Flemish leader known from the Battle of the Golden Spurs.

The seat of the European Commission, the symbolic Berlaymont building, was in dire need of renovation due to the discovery of asbestos in its construction.

A new building was rapidly needed to house the President and his college of Commissioners, as the issue of the location of European Union institutions was being discussed and any delays could lead to the Commission withdrawing from the city.

Plans for the building were already being prepared by the bank BACOB due to the rapidly expanding needs of the Commission, though the entire block would be needed to house the 1,300 civil servants and auxiliary services.

The main building was ready just in time for the transfer of Commission staff at the end of 1991, and expansion continued through the 1990s.