Hôtel de Limminghe, Parliament building in Centre Quarter, Belgium.

The Brussels Parliament building occupies the former Hôtel de Limminghe at 69 rue du Lombard, a neoclassical complex whose oldest wings date to the 17th century. Its light grey ashlar facade carries a balustrade, pilasters and tall white-framed windows; the upper right stone band is inscribed "MARQVIS DE LIMMINGHE". A modern zinc-and-glass roof volume crowns the building, housing the hemicycle on the top floor.

The Maes family mansion on this site was destroyed in the 1695 bombardment of Brussels. Count Charles van den Berghe, twice burgomaster, bought the remains and built a two-storey mansion in 1696. The state acquired it in 1823 for the Brabant provincial administration and governor's residence. Georges Hano added a taller wing in 1907, and a neo-Louis XVI building was completed in 1930. In 1995 it became the Brussels Regional Parliament, with a hemicycle added on top.

In 1998 a commission of Parliament Office members and eight external art-world observers commissioned eleven artists to create works for specific areas of the building. These include Joseph Kosuth's illuminated frieze, Paul Day's terracotta high-reliefs, Wim Delvoye's "Love letter from Mohammed to Caroline" and Julien Willem's Brussels portrait gallery.

Visitors can observe parliamentary sessions from the public gallery, positioned in a curved formation that overlooks the main debating chamber from above. Checking session times in advance and dressing appropriately will help you make the most of your visit to this official space.

The hemicycle sits on the top floor under a modern zinc and glass roof, encircled by a long curved wooden wall with an overhanging press and public gallery. Behind the building, 400 m2 of hanging gardens rise to 27 metres. In 1998, eleven artists were commissioned to create works for the interior, among them Wim Delvoye and Joseph Kosuth.