1826: Signing of the Royal Decree by King William I of the Netherlands ordering the construction of the Royal Observatory of Brussels (which would become the Royal Observatory of Belgium). Driven by the vision of Adolphe Quetelet, this project aimed to provide the country with a centre of excellence for astronomy and meteorology. Initially located near the Schaerbeek Gate (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode), the Observatory not only served in mapping the heavens but also acted as the guardian of official time and national statistics, laying the foundations for institutional scientific rigour in Belgium.

Image credits : monument.heritage.brussels