It was named after the river Dyle (Dijle), which flows through the department.

It was created on 1 October 1795, when the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège were officially annexed by the French Republic.

The Chef-lieu of the department was the City of Brussels (Bruxelles in French).

The department was subdivided into the following three arrondissements and cantons (as of 1812):[5] After the defeat of Napoleon the department became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, as the province of (South) Brabant.

The office of Subprefect of Bruxelles was held by the Prefect until 1811.