European Comission

During the 1960s the building was built to make the headquarters of the European Commission. Construction took a few years and it wasn't until 1969 that it opened. It is located at the end of Rue de Loi, in the center of the European quarter.

The building occupies 240,000 square meters. With 3,000 staff, it has meeting rooms, television studios, a restaurant and conference rooms. The building was designed by Lucien de Vestel and consists of a 17-story tall cross. The tower is star-shaped with four wings.

In 1991 the structure of the building was completely remodeled because it was discovered that the construction contained asbestos, a toxic substance. The remodeling lasted more than a decade and it was not until 2004 when the building reopened. As with the European Commission (Schuman) metro stop, the works are controversial and slow. The renovation was carried out by architects Pierre Lallemand, Steven Beckers and Willfried Van Campenhout.

Since 2005, the members of the Barroso Commission have been in the Berlaymont building. The President's office is in the last office in the building. The Barroso II Commission will conclude its five-year mandate in 2014. It currently consists of 27 commissioners.

The building was built where the Dames du Berlaymont convent was. A two-hectare piece of land that was bought in 1960 by the Belgian state to build the European Commission. It was decided that the building would be named as the old convent that was there.

The visits are reserved for groups of at least 15 people. You have to book in advance.