Brussels (Bruxelles), issued in 1837 by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, distills the Belgian capital at a pivotal moment—intimate in scale yet newly self-assured after independence. The plan is celebrated for its crisp SDUK linework and for the charming profile views of eight principal buildings, which punctuate the sheet with a lucid sense of the city’s skyline. The cartographer frames a Brussels ringed by canals and emergent boulevards, before later demolitions and grand projects remade it into a modern metropolis. A discreet bilingual note translates key toponyms from French into English, guiding the international reader, while an inset of the environs situates the town within the web of roads and waterways that animated its 19th-century fortunes.

At the map’s heart, civic and royal power stand in close dialogue: the Grand Place’s medieval guildhalls give way uphill to the Royal Palace, with the austere Palais de la Nation anchoring the government quarter. Drawn a mere seven years after the Belgian Revolution, the plan captures a recalibrated identity—names such as Palais de la Nation signaling a new constitutional order. St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels’s spiritual lodestar, rises prominently, its profile view echoing the Gothic verticality visible on the ground plan. This is a city still compact, its core wards tightly knit and legible, yet already articulating the axes along which nineteenth-century urban ambition would extend.

The street network reads like a manifesto in stone. Broad boulevards—the Boulevard de l’Impératrice, Boulevard du Jardin Botanique, Boulevard de l’Observatoire, and Boulevard de Waterloo—trace gracious arcs around the center, while the Chaussée de Louvain and Chaussée de Wavre thrust outward as historic roads to the hinterland. Everyday Brussels is equally present: Rue des Bouchers and Rue des Tanneurs speak to guild and market life; Rue de la Loi sets a stately course through the administrative spine; Place du Petit Sablon and Place de la Bourse signal cultural and commercial vitality. Mont des Arts and Avenue des Arts presage an emerging arts precinct, and the city’s parks and gardens, not least the Botanique, signal a taste for ordered nature amid dense streets.

One of the map’s joys lies in how SDUK marries plan and elevation. The profile views—featuring such landmarks as the Royal Palace, St. Gudula Cathedral, and the Palais de la Nation—act as architectural footnotes, translating the abstract geometry of the plan into recognizably Brussels silhouettes. This hybrid vision, at once scholarly and picturesque, is typical of SDUK craftsmanship: clear cartography, meticulous labeling, and didactic intent. The French-to-English name key further underscores the map’s cosmopolitan reach, enabling historians, travelers, and collectors alike to navigate the city’s quarters with ease while appreciating the civic pride and architectural confidence of a young capital.

The inset map broadens the lens, positioning Brussels within its surrounding communes and the arterial routes that fed commerce and ideas into the city. It highlights the strategic importance of the canal system and chaussées, showing how the urban heart stitched itself to the broader Brabant landscape. In aggregate, the plan becomes more than a street directory: it is an urban biography, fixing Brussels at the threshold of transformation. For students of planning and architecture, its precision makes it a reference point for the city’s 19th-century development; for connoisseurs, it offers a time capsule of neighborhoods and names just before the great works of modernization reshaped the capital’s face.

Streets and roads on this map

• Avenues
• Avenue des Arts
• Boulevard de l’Impératrice
• Boulevard de l’Observatoire
• Boulevard du Jardin Botanique
• Boulevard de Waterloo
• Chaussée de Louvain
• Chaussée de Wavre
• Espace des Combattants
• Place de la Bourse
• Place du Petit Sablon
• Rue de Brabois
• Rue de l’Aqueduc
• Rue de l’Évêque
• Rue de l’Ermitage
• Rue de l’Ímpératrice
• Rue de la Croix
• Rue de la Loi
• Rue de Namur
• Rue des Bains
• Rue des Bouchers
• Rue des Comédiens
• Rue des Sablons
• Rue des Tanneurs
• Rue du Cerf
• Rue du Meunier
• Rue du Mont des Arts
• Rue du Relais
• Rue du Rouet
• Rue du Tramway

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Grand Palace
• Palais de la Nation
• Royal Palace
• St. Gudula Cathedral
• Profile views of notable buildings
• Canals surrounding the city
• Boulevards and streets of Brussels
• Inset map of the environs

Historical and design context

• Date of Creation: 1837
• Mapmaker/Publisher: SDUK (Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge)
• The SDUK was influential in promoting education and knowledge through accessible publications, especially in the early to mid-19th century.
• Highly detailed town plan of Brussels, featuring profile views of eight principal buildings.
• Recognized as one of the best-detailed published maps of 19th-century Brussels.
• Illustrates the heart of Brussels, which is surrounded by canals and boulevards.
• Depicts a city that had not yet transformed into the metropolis it is today.
• Created seven years after the Belgian Revolution, highlighting significant name changes such as Palais de la Nation.
• Contains a note that translates several place names from French to English.
• The map showcases detailed cartography typical of the SDUK, with clean lines and a structured layout.
• Notable for its inclusion of buildings rendered in a profile view, giving a three-dimensional perspective.
• Reflects changes in Brussels post-revolution and serves as a historical resource for urban development in the early 19th century.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

Alcune delle mie vecchie mappe sono ora disponibili come tele incorniciate. Per favore contattami se desideri ordinare una dimensione che non è disponibile nel mio negozio.

Le vecchie mappe su tela sono un'alternativa interessante alle mappe incorniciate in modo convenzionale. A seconda del tuo gusto personale e dell'arredamento della stanza, le mappe su tela possono "risaltare" un po' di più rispetto a una mappa incorniciata.

Scopri di più sulle mie mappe su tela incorniciate.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

Se non sei soddisfatto del tuo ordine per qualsiasi motivo, contattami per un rimborso senza problemi. Si prega di consultare la nostra politica di reso e rimborso per ulteriori informazioni.

Sono molto sicuro che ti piacerà la tua mappa restaurata o la stampa d'arte. Lo faccio dal 1984. Sono un venditore Etsy a 5 stelle. Ho venduto decine di migliaia di mappe e stampe d'arte e ho oltre 5.000 recensioni reali a 5 stelle.

Utilizzo un processo unico per restaurare mappe e opere d'arte che richiede molto tempo e lavoro. Trovare le mappe e le illustrazioni originali può richiedere mesi. Utilizzo tecnologia all'avanguardia e incredibilmente costosa per scannerizzare e restaurarle. Di conseguenza, garantisco che le mie mappe e stampe d'arte siano superiori alle altre - ecco perché posso offrire un rimborso senza problemi.

Quasi tutte le mie mappe e stampe d'arte sembrano fantastiche a grandi dimensioni (200 cm, 6,5 piedi+) e posso anche incorniciarle e consegnarle a te, tramite un corriere speciale per oggetti di grandi dimensioni. Contattami per discutere delle tue esigenze specifiche.