Passage du Nord - Noorddoorgang, Covered shopping gallery in Pentagon district, Brussels, Belgium.
Passage du Nord is a covered shopping gallery in central Brussels that connects two major public squares. The corridor runs approximately 69 meters with roughly thirty shops lining both sides beneath a continuous glass roof that keeps the interior bright and open.
Architect Henri Rieck designed the passage between 1881 and 1882 as a modern shopping destination for Brussels's wealthy citizens. The upper floors originally housed a museum and cultural center with performance spaces and dining facilities.
The name recalls the historic northern edge of the city before it expanded. Inside, visitors find ornate glass skylights illuminating the shops below and decorative elements throughout that speak to the Belle Époque era, when this passage served as a meeting place for Brussels's affluent.
The passage runs covered between two central squares and provides a sheltered route during bad weather. Visitors should note that it becomes busiest on weekday afternoons, while mornings tend to be quieter and easier to explore.
The passage's facades display rich stone decorations created by sculptors Joseph Berteux and Albert Desenfants, including figures representing Day and Night. These finely carved details are often overlooked by visitors rushing through.
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