 1 Parc du Cinquantenaire ("Park of the Fiftieth Anniversary")is located in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels. Most buildings of the U-shaped complex were commissioned by the Belgian government under the patronage of King Leopold II for the 1880 National Exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence. During successive exhibitions in the same area, more structures were added. The centrepiece triumphal arch was erected in 1905 replacing a previous temporary version of the arcade by Gédéon Bordiau. The structures were built in iron, glass and stone, symbolising the economic and industrial performance of Belgium. The Royal Military Museum has been the sole tenant of the northern half of the complex since 1880. The southern half is occupied by the Cinquantenaire Museum and the AutoWorld Museum. The Temple of Human Passions, a remainder from 1886, and the Great Mosque of Brussels from 1978 are located in the north-western corner of the park. Wikipedia |
 2 The day's cycling route. |
 3 Parc du Cinquantenaire. The blue lines are from the camera GPS log. |
 4 Arcade du Cinquantenaire is a monumental triple arch in the center of the Cinquantenaire park in. It is topped by a bronze quadriga sculptural group with a woman charioteer, representing Brabant raising the national flag. The columns echo the original layout of Avenue de Tervuren, which was once divided into three roadways lined with a double row of trees |
 5 Quadriga sculptural group with a woman charioteer, representing the province of Brabant raising the national flag |
 6 More Quadriga if one's not enough for you. |
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 10 Although the King and Queen don't actually live here The Royal Palace is where His Majesty the King exercises his prerogatives as Head of State, grants audiences and deals with affairs of state. Apart from the offices of the King and the Queen, the Royal Palace houses the services of the Grand Marshal of the Court, the King's Head of Cabinet, the Head of the King's Military Household and the Intendant of the King's Civil List. The Palace also includes the State Rooms where large receptions are held, as well as the apartments provided for foreign Heads of State during official visits. |
 11 Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg (French) or Sint-Jacob-op-Koudenberg (Dutch) is a neoclassical church located in the historic square of Place Royale in central Brussels. Suceeding other built in the same place the present building was designed to serve as the Church of the Abbey of Saint-Jacques on the Coudenberg. |
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 16 Autoworld is a vintage car museum in the center of Brussels, Belgium, located in the southern hall of the Cinquantenaire Park. It holds a large and varied collection of 350 vintage European and American automobiles from the late 19th century until the seventies. Including Minervas, such models as a 1928 Bentley, a 1930 Bugatti and a 1930 Cord and several limousines which belonged to the Belgian royal family. |
 17 The Piedboeuf motobike was built in Liège from 1903 to 1905. The 387cc motor produced 1.5hp. |
 18 1900 Aster Threewheeler single cylider displacing 699cc and producing 2 1/4hp. The big jug behind the axle is a carbuetter and was called "The milk jug". |
 19 This Rovin, a French car sold mostly around Paris, appears to be a D3. 'Voiturette' means a small car. Powered by a 2cyl 425cc engine producing 2hp it could reach 75kph although this figures conflict with other accounts. |
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 21 Whizzer was an American motorized bicycle conversion that could be bought as a kit. I had one in the 1960s but not a tandem like this. A 'friend' bororrowed it while I was away for the summer and I never saw it again. It was fun while I had it. So much fun at 17! |
 22 FN of Belgium manufactured the world's first four-cylinder motorcycle and was famous for the use of shaft drive in all models from 1903 to 1923 achieving success in sprint and long distance motorcycle racing. In 1905 the first 362 cc shaft-drive in-line FN inlet-over-exhaust four-cylinder motorcycle appeared, designed by Paul Kelecom. This was the world's first manufactured four-cylinder motorcycle. By 1907 the Four engine had grown to 412 cc. For 1908, the year of this example, the US Export model began manufacture. The Four had a 493 cc engine, and in 1910 that became 498 cc. This bike weighed 75 kg (165 lb) dry, and could do 40 mph (64 km/h). The 1913 Fours had a two-speed gearbox and clutch, at the rear of the shaft drive, and bicycle pedals were permanently replaced with footrests from then on. For 1914 the FN “Type 700” 748 cc Four was released, with the gearbox at the rear of the engine. |
 23 This Minerva is likely a 1902 model of 269cc displacement producing 2hp. Some history: Mr Sylvain de Jong, born in Amsterdam on 5 January 1868, moved at the age of 13 with his parents and two brothers to Brussels. After working for some years as a journalist, he went to the U.K. to study the safety bicycle production. In 1895, S. de Jong, his brothers and other investors started a factory in Antwerp, to produce and repair bicycles. For these bicycles, they selected the name "Mercury". Only two years later, after a dispute with the other investors, S. de Jong created on 15 October 1897; "S. de Jong & Cie". This time he selected the name "Minerva" for the new plant in Antwerp. Minerva the Roman goddess, daughter of Jupiter, sprang from the head of her father, fully grown and in full armour. She was the patron of warriors, goddess of knowledge and wisdom and goddess of artisans and industry. Sylvain de Jong anticipated on a slackening bicycle market and announced in February 1899, the production of light cars (voiturettes) and motorcycles |
 24 Who wouldn't want to have this 1909 Renault AX? Used mostly as a taxi it was powered by a 1060cc 2cyl engine producing 8hp and could propel it up to 55kph. |
 25 There was a parade. I had take a picture or two. |
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