Boulevard Anspach or Anspachlaan (Dutch

Dutch language

Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...

) is a major boulevard

Boulevard

A Boulevard is type of road, usually a wide, multi-lane arterial thoroughfare, divided with a median down the centre, and roadways along each side designed as slow travel and parking lanes and for bicycle and pedestrian usage, often with an above-average quality of landscaping and scenery...

 in the city centre of Brussels

Brussels

Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

, Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, connecting the Place de Brouckère to the Place Fontainas. It is named after Jules Anspach

Jules Anspach

Jules Victor Anspach was a Belgian politician, best known for his renovations surrounding the covering of the Senne river. He is buried in the Brussels Cemetery....

, a former mayor of Brussels. It was built over the river Senne, covering it up

Covering of the Senne

The covering of the Senne was one of the defining events in the history of Brussels. The Senne/Zenne was historically the main waterway of Brussels, but it became more polluted and less navigable as the city grew. By the second half of the 19th century, it had become a serious health hazard and...

, although the river no longer runs underneath it. The De Brouckère metro station is accessible from the boulevard, as well as the Bourse

Bourse/Beurs premetro station

The Bourse/Beurs premetro station is an underground tram station in Brussels, Belgium located in the city center under the Boulevard Anspach next to the Brussels Stock Exchange, after which it is named. It is also located meters from the Grand Place. Brussels trams stopping at that station are the...

 underground tram

Tram

A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...

 station. The boulevard is continued to the north by both Boulevard Emile Jacqmain and Boulevard Adolphe Max, forming a Y crossroad. To the south, it is continued by Boulevard Maurice Lemonnier. Many places of interest lie along the Boulevard Anspach, for instance the Brussels Stock Exchange

Brussels Stock Exchange

The Brussels Stock Exchange was founded in Brussels, Belgium, by Napoleonic decree in 1801. On September 22, 2000, the BSE merged with Paris Bourse, Lisbon Stock Exchange and the stock exchanges of Amsterdam, to form Euronext N.V., the first pan-European exchange for equities and derivatives,...

, the Ancienne Belgique

Ancienne Belgique

The Ancienne Belgique is a concert hall for contemporary music in Brussels, Belgium. Located in the historic heart of Brussels, it is one the leading concert venues in Belgium, hosting a wide variety of international and local acts.-The venue:...

concert hall as well as many shops and restaurants. Prior to 1879, it was named Boulevard Central.