Palais du Centenaire (Centenary Palace), Brussels

Just beyond Bruparck lies the city's expansive trade fair area known as the Exhibition Park ("Parc des Expositions"), also referred to as Brussels Expo. This venue hosts over 150 events annually, drawing approximately 2.5 million visitors. Serving as a central gathering place for a multitude of activities spanning various sectors, both economic and cultural, its construction began in 1931. At that time, five halls were erected for the Brussels International Exposition of 1935, which celebrated the centenary of Belgian Independence.

Among these initial five halls, Palais 5, informally known as the Centenary Palace, stands out as the most ornate and is still in use today. Remarkable for its impressive dimensions, measuring nearly 165 by 90 meters (541 feet by 295 feet), it wa the largest among the 182 pavilions at the exhibition. Notably, it boasted arches of unparalleled size and, at the time, featured the world's largest reinforced concrete frame. During Expo 58, it played a role as the exhibition's entrance hall, with a temporary mask covering its facade, adorned with 94 bronze stars and a copper dove.

The Centenary Palace has been a venue for other significant events, including hosting the 32nd Eurovision Song Contest in 1987. It continues to serve as a location for trade fairs and concerts, typically featuring larger acts and artists.

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Nearby, you'll find the Stade du Roi Baudouin, formerly the infamous Heysel football stadium, where a tragic incident occurred on May 29, 1985, resulting in the crushing death of thirty-nine primarily Italian supporters when a sector wall collapsed. After reconstruction in 1995 and renaming in honor of the Belgian king who had passed away just prior to its completion, it now serves as the national stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000. International fixtures are held here, and it played a prominent role as one of the Belgian venues for Euro 2000, co-hosted with the Netherlands, having hosted one of the tournament's semi-finals.