The Passage du Nord is one of Brussels’ architectural jewels. Yet time, historical upheavals and shifts in usage have not always been kind to it. Throughout the 20th century, the domes—severely damaged—were removed; the entrance columns and statues on the main façade disappeared; and many shopfronts were altered, losing their original unity. By the late 1990s, after the roofs had already been renovated, the decision was taken to restore the entire building to its former glory. A vast restoration programme began, lasting almost thirty years. Roofs, façades, columns, glass roofs, floors, sculptures… thanks to the expertise of skilled heritage artisans, each element was meticulously restored based on archival documents, stratigraphic analyses, old photographs and engravings.

2000: Renovation of external façades and cornices (Boulevard A. Max and Rue Neuve) 2000–2016: Shopfronts regain their original appearance A sixteen-year project begins to restore the shopfronts to their initial design. The materials used match the originals: blue stone plinths, stained-glass vents in metal frames, oak doors and window frames, mirrored columns, and decorative cartouches set in fully restored cornices in their historical colours. This extensive work reinstates the Passage du Nord’s visual unity and unmistakable Belle Époque charm.

2000–2001: Restoration of statues and lighting – Adolphe Max façade The four groups of children by Albert Desenfans—though still in place—were heavily damaged: broken elbows, missing fingers, cracks… Thanks to the presence of all four statues, damaged sections could be faithfully reconstructed using intact parts as references. The original lighting had long since vanished, with only one distant, blurry photograph remaining. Lacking detail, a visually similar model from another Brussels building was chosen and reproduced eight times to restore the façade’s original harmony. Two of the four candelabras survived; the missing ones were recreated identically from the existing models. These restored statue-and-lantern ensembles bring back the façade’s distinctive character.

2005: Two columns rediscovered The two columns framing the main entrance—removed in the early 20th century—were rebuilt identically. Now decorative rather than structural, they restore the original architectural coherence of the arcade’s entrance. In 2025, these columns are selected as the visual signature of the Passage du Nord’s new identity.

2010: A floor worthy of the setting The 1960s tiling is replaced with Comblanchien stone, a noble natural material that matches the original floor. The layout follows historical plans, confirmed by an old photograph proving the accuracy of the reconstruction.

2017–2018: An interior reborn A comprehensive restoration breathes new life into the passage: – interior façades repainted in their historical colours, identified via stratigraphic analysis; – full restoration of the caryatids, including missing parts, crack treatment and repainting; – strengthening of the glass roofs and installation of new translucent plexiglass panels; – reconstruction of period lighting based on photographs and engravings.

2023: Return of the child statues to the main façade Two statues by Albert Desenfans—removed in the early 20th century—are reconstructed using the preserved models from the interior footbridge. Crafted by artisan staff maker Michel Ciselet, their meticulous reproduction restores the façade’s historical appearance.

2024: Domes, ornaments and new uses Destroyed in 1910, the domes are rebuilt identically in 2024, following plans redrawn by the Atelier d’Architecture du Congrès based on archival sources, with structural improvements. This exceptional project marks the culmination of more than three decades of restoration. It is awarded the 2024 Prince Alexandre de Mérode Prize for Heritage, recognising an extraordinary achievement.

2024: Restoration of roof ornaments Cast zinc medallions return to their place along the gutter front, just below the new domes. The sculpted faces adorning these pieces are recreated from 3D scans of similar figures on the Rue Neuve façade—a blend of technology and traditional craftsmanship carried out by Atelier d’Architecture du Congrès, Art et Ardoises, Les Charpentiers and Dinanderie Clabots.

2023–2024: Upper floors refurbished by Cohabs After a century under the Hotel Métropole, the upper floors begin a new chapter thanks to Cohabs, a leading Belgian coliving company operating in Brussels, Paris and New York. Known for transforming remarkable buildings into shared homes, Cohabs turns the Passage du Nord into its largest coliving project to date: 60 fully furnished rooms, a spacious rooftop terrace, cinema room, gym, coworking space and even a bike storage area.