Luggage storage near the Brussels Schuman Station

If you're planning to visit Brussel's top tourist destination, your adventure might take you to the Brussels-Schuman railway station, officially known as Brussels-Schuman. Like most train stations in Brussels, the station has its own stories to tell. But before we dive into the station's past, you might wonder: where is the station located? Like Brussels-Luxembourg, Brussels-Schuman is situated in the center of the European Quarter of Brussels. The station is connected to the Schuman metro station on lines 1 and 5, and it is a crucial hub for the STIB/MIVB public transportation network. Brussels Schuman Station was named after Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union.

The station's history goes back to 1856, when the railway lines were first established between Brussels-Luxembourg and Brussels-North. However, during this time, there were no stations. It wasn't until nine years later, in 1865, stations were built along the line, all thanks to the funding given from the state to Grande Compagnie du Luxembourg to construct stations. A halt was built and named Bruxelles (Rue de la Loi). However, in the early 1920s, it was closed.

Later, when the Berlaymont and Charlemagne buildings were being planned and constructed, the station's site was identified as a future rail and metro connection location. In 1969, rail and premetro (underground tram) was installed in the station. And seven years later, the premetro trams were replaced with the new Brussels Metro.

From 2008 to 2016, the railway station underwent massive renovations. Two extra tracks were added to the station in order to increase its capacity. This was made possible by connecting to a tunnel leading to the old Schaerbeek-Josaphat station and the marshaling yard of line 26. With this, direct and quick connections were able to be made to Antwerp, Leuven, and Brussels Airport. The renovation also resulted in a new glass roof allowing more natural light into the station. As a result of these renovations, the Brussels-Schuman railway station has become one of the largest in Brussels. While in Brussels Schuman, don’t miss out on the world-famous Atomium! This landmark was built as the centerpiece for the 1958 World's Fair (Expo 58), which was held in Brussels. It is shaped like an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, representing the atomic structure. Each year, this symbol of the city attracts over 600,000 visitors from across the globe.