Atomium
NORTHERN BRUSSELS, HEYSEL, ROYAL PARK, LAEKEN

Atomium is a spectacular and unique structure in the Northern part of Brussels, in the district of Heysel, next to Royal Park of Laeken. Atomium was built for 1958 World Fair, and still looks very futuristic with its shining stainless steel (that replaced the fading aluminium in 2006) facade in a shape that resembles an iron crystal (magnified 165 billion times) with 9 spheres. It is 108m tall and each sphere is 18m in diameter. The structure was designed by engineer André Waterkeyn and the two architects André and Jean Polak. Atomium is one of the most famous symbols of Brussels.

During our visit there was an exhibition inside Atomium with light shows and electronic music that was very cool and was displayed in both the spheres and in the escalators that connect them. We also visited the observation deck separately, located in the top sphere that is reached by an elevator and has panoramic views of Brussels. The waiting line was very long. The miniature theme park Mini-Europe is situated right next to Atomium, we visited these two interesting attractions the same grey but yet joyful day. The entrance fee was pretty expensive and the waiting line was long, but it was definately worth it!
 

Atomium. Built for the 1958 World Fair. Tubes with elevators inside connect the sphere, where you find exhibtion and during our visit a light/music show, and one vertical elevator that leads to the observation deck.

Atomium has been called Europe's most bizarre building by CNN. Atomium was a showpiece of Belgian iron and steel industry.

  


Atomium with theme from the football champiionship


Atomium

 
Atomium   Atomium   Atomium

 
Atomium   Atomium   Atomium

 
The entrance to Atomium   Details of a sphere, Atomium   Atomium

 
Details of a sphere   Stairs to the top of Atomium   Atomium

 
Old world exhibtion building from 1958   Old world exhibtion building from 1958   Park Laeken, a large nearby park with a a royal castle, chinese temples and more.

 

VIEWS FROM THE OBSERVATION DECK:

Atomium

 


Atomium


The escalator that leads to the exhibitions

Financial district of Brussels, situated just north of the city center and far south of Atomium. The dominating buildings in the picture are from the left Finance Tower (tallest in Brussels if counting mast), Dexia Tower and Up-site, Belgium's tallest residential highrise to the far right. In the foreground is World Trade Center.

 

  
Centenary Place with and old world exhibtion building from 1958   Exhibtion building with recently added solar panels on the roof   East Brussels

Mini-Europe

 


Mini-Europe
Mini-Europe

 
Mini-Europe   Mini-Europe   Atomium and Mini-Europe

Looking south, towards the city center and CBD. Far away in the middle of the picture, you can see Tour du Midi, Belgium's tallest building.

  


West Brussels
Heysel district and Mini-Europe

 

Sacre-Coeur (Cathedral of Sacred Hearts), and parts of the highrise skyline of West Brussels with the 300m tall Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Tower, Belgium's tallest structure, in the background. The TV tower was built in 1996.

  


Royal Park of Laeken


Royal Park of Laeken

Royal Park of Laeken and West Brussels.

 
Royal Park of Laeken   Commie blocks, Royal Park of Laeken   Towards city center with The Hotel and Palace of Justice

Business district, Park Laeken and a nearby gothic church

 


Skyline, Central business district

Royal Park of Laeken

Heysel district, North Brussels with commie blocks and King Baoudin Stadium, formerly known as Heysel Stadium when a fatal accident occured there in the 1985. Parts of the stadium collapsed and 39 people died after riots between Liverpool and Juventus. But the stadium has been completely rebuilt since then.

  


King Baoudin Stadium is Belgium's national stadium

Royal Park of Laeken

 

  
Royal Park of Laeken   Commie blocks, Royal Park of Laeken   Towards the city center with The Hotel and Palace of Justice

 

THE INTERIOR AND EXHIBITION INSIDE ATOMIUM:

 
Escalators to the exhibiton leading from the entrance hall   Stairway   Futuristic stairway inside one of the tubes between the spheres

 
Eearly proposals   Model of Atomium   Atomium was a showpiece of Belgian iron and steel industry.

 
Eearly sketches   Early design proposal   This tall tower could have been instead of Atomium, but the latter one won the competition.

 
Architects drawings   Exhibition of old broschure of Atomium inside one of the sphere   Exhibition of old broschure of Atomium inside one of the sphere

 
Architects drawings   Exhibition of old broschures of Atomium inside one of the spheres   Exhibition of old broschures of Atomium inside one of the spheres

 
Exhibition of old broschures of Atomium inside one of the spheres   Exhibition of old broschures of Atomium inside one of the spheres   Model of the USA pavilion during the World Fair

Inside some of the spheres, and parts of the tubes, a very cool display called "Out of Control" took place with electronic music and light shows. It was based on a science fiction novel from 2013, called ID (Innovative Display).

  

The red sphere is where it is taken

"Out of Control"

Inside some of the spheres, and parts of the tubes, a very cool display called "Out of Control" took place with electronic music and light shows. It was based on a science fiction novel from 2013, called ID (Innovative Display).

  

"Out of control" display inside Atomium

The light show was on display inside some of the tubes, very cool experience!

Another tube where a light show with music was playing while you ride in the escalator!

 

 

Smaller spheres inside a larger spehre!

 


View from the same sphere towards Park Laekn

Spheres and views

 


Spheres and views

Atomium, Business district skyline, Royal Park of Laeken and a nearby neighbourhood.

 
Sculpture outside the entrance   Sculpture outside the entrance   Sculpture outside the entrance