The bronze foundry in Molenbeek was founded in 1854 and initially produced lighting systems. From 1870 onwards, the "Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles" became famous worldwide by casting bronze monuments.

Made in Molenbeek

During the reign of King Leopold II, who thoroughly renovated Brussels, the bronze foundry became the leading supplier of bronze statues. As a result, on every street corner in the center of Brussels, you will find a bronze monument cast in the "Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles."

The bronze foundry also made its mark outside Brussels, such as with the statues of Jacob Van Artevelde and Lieven Bauwens in Ghent or that of John Cockerill in Seraing.

War

Between the two world wars, the factory benefited from the countless plaques commemorating those who died in the First World War. However, after the Second World War, the slow decline began. Bronze was out of fashion. Bronze was cast for the last time on April 30, 1977, and the factory closed in 1979.

The buildings were revived in 1983 by Guido Vanderhulst, the driving force behind La Fonderie. The renovated factory now houses the Brussels Museum for Labor and Industry. In the workshops, you can still find the mold from which one of the statues of Leopold II was cast.