Brussels toponymy, past and future

On 14 November, a study day at CegeSoma brought together some fifteen researchers on Brussels toponymy, past and future. The initiative was supported by the Brussels Studies Institute (BSI), the Brussels Interdisciplinary Studies Network (EBxl) and Cegesoma/ State Archives, represented respectively by Iadine Degryse, Benjamin Wayens and Chantal Kesteloot.

Why such an initiative?

Long confined to the realm of the anecdotal, toponymy has been the subject of unprecedented interest over the last fifteen years. New research has been initiated by historians, geographers, anthropologists, sociologists and even linguists. Public space is not a neutral ground, but a place where memories and social representations are made. Some of these are being contested and debated today. But the phenomenon is far from new.

This long-term approach fuelled the day's contributions and debates. The focus was on Brussels toponymy, from medieval mapping practices to the very contemporary issues of decolonization and feminization, not forgetting other spaces such as public transport stops and the use of old street signs in museums.

Fertile ground for war history

World wars have left their mark on Brussels' toponymic landscape. In this respect, World War I is by far the most present, a fact linked to the urbanization of the capital in the inter-war period, the outstanding dynamic of Auderghem commune, and the competition between municipalities to capture the international memory of the conflict. But the occupations also generated other reflections, in terms of the rationalization of names and the desire for control. In short, a field of research that has yet to reveal its full potential.

A database and a publication

This first meeting is part of a wider perspective. It should lead to a twofold initiative: the publication of the proceedings at the end of 2025 and the finalization of a database on Brussels roadways. These initiatives will help make this research part of a multi-disciplinary scientific approach. The database will allow research into the various types of streets, the dates on which they were created, and the choices made by the various municipalities over the course of their history. The objective is also to better identify the variety of archives available, and their locations.

In short, a project to keep an eye on.