Belgian Senate

Palais de la Nation is the home of Belgium's Parliament and lies at one end of Parc de Bruxelles. The palace dates back to 1783 when Belgium was still part of the Duchy of Brabant ruled by the Austrian Habsburgs. It was originally constructed for the Sovereign Council of Brabant, the supreme court of the duchy. When the French took over Belgium in 1794, the former Palace of the Council of Brabant continued functioning as a court structure.