Joseph Marien Stadium Brussels

Art Deco in sport

Renata from Brussels

""Joseph Marien Stadium" in Brussels doesn't look like a stadium - it's another Art Deco building that fascinates me with its long, beautiful facade."

I leave it to my fellow Spotter Wouter to talk about football in Brussels. I prefer architecture much more!

During one of my walks around the city, I bumped into the Joseph Marien Stadium in Forest. It almost doesn't look like a stadium - it could pass it for a simple house with a fascinating 101.4m long facade, though.

If you are already used to the architecture of Brussels, you won't be surprised to find out that this stadium is also a fine example of Art Deco.

Back in the beginning of the 20th century, l'Union Saint-Gilloise was the best football club in the country. They needed a proper stadium for their supporters.

It was April 1926 when building works started, and at the end of August of the same year, it was completed and inaugurated. That's a record!

I spent some time checking the facade and noticed the 7-carped panels sculpted by Oscar De Clerck. They depict the 2 disciplines that made the Saint-Gillois club famous, namely: athletics and football.

I am just fascinated by all these different kinds of applied Art Deco in Brussels!

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Brussels Spotter Renata

About me: I was born and raised in Torino, in the North of Italy. Studying engineering allowed me to live in many different countries. When I came to the point where I needed to look for a job I decided I wanted to have another experience abroad. In 2003 the job offer came from Brussels, for a big multinational company. I wasn’t that excited, didn’t know Brussels very well, and I always thought it was a grey and boring city. But I moved anyway and less than 6 months later this city had already changed my opinion and I have now declared it my hometown. I’ve even bought an apartment here n...

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Chaussée de Bruxelles 223

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Nov 16, 2025

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