Brussels Parliament building

Towards the end of the 17th century, the site housed the vast mansion of the Maes family on the Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat, which was destroyed in 1695 during the bombardment of Brussels in the War of the Grand Alliance.

The remains of the mansion and its lands were bought by the Count of Limminghe, Charles van den Berghe, who held numerous posts of administration in Brussels, being twice the city's burgomaster (later mayor).

A year later, in 1696, he built another large, prestigious two-story mansion at the end of an enclosed courtyard with a garden (entered via Saint-Jean/Sint-Jan), which was then sold on to various figures such as Apostolic Nuncio and the then-ambassador to England.

Due to development of the provincial government, however, the building became too small and dilapidated by the end of the 1860s, hence there were successive waves of reconstruction, albeit with a planned design for consistency.

The new Rue du Lombard/Lombardstraat was opened up by the city at the start of the 20th century and Hano desired to make the presence of the provincial government felt on this new road which his complex now bordered.

The resulting changes made included increasing the height of the wing overlooking the Rue du Lombard in order to erect a new hemicycle on the top floor.