Set in the greenery of Duden Park, the Marien Stadium in its current form was inaugurated on 29 August 1926 by Prince Charles of Belgium. A new stand was then built along Chaussée de Bruxelles, and it still defines the stadium’s image today. The decision to alter the stadium was taken at the end of the 1925-1926 season, although the complex had already been in use: its official opening is recorded on 14 September 1919. At the time, the changing rooms stood in the park, and players reached the pitch by descending steps set among the standing places of the popular section. Before that, they trained on a grass pitch behind the velodrome in the Bois de la Cambre.
The Art Deco building was designed by architect Albert Callewaert and decorated with monumental sculptures by Oscar De Clerck. Since its construction, the Marien Stadium has formed a distinctive link between the city, the park and sporting life. It is part of Brussels’ built, green, social and iconic landscape. (Listed since 11/02/2010)