Compagnie de Bruxelles

Former head office of the Compagnie de Bruxelles, Rue Royale 56

The Compagnie de Bruxelles (Dutch: Brusselse Maatschappij), full name Compagnie de Bruxelles pour l'Assurance à Primes Contre l'Incendie, la Foudre et les Explosions,[1] was one of the first insurance companies in present-day Belgium.[2] Founded in 1821 by Josse-Pierre Matthieu, one of the era's prominent merchants-financiers, it was later branded Compagnie de Bruxelles 1821, abbreviated as CB 1821.[3] It was eventually absorbed by Fortis in 2000.

Overview

Fire insurance mark of the Compagnie de Bruxelles, kept at the Missouri History Museum

In late 1820, a massive fire at the Palace of the Nation, then known as the Palace of the Prince of Orange and of the States General,[4] stimulated interest local interest in fire insurance.[2] The Compagnie de Bruxelles was soon established on 15 February 1821 as a joint-stock company (French: société anonyme par actions). By decision of 15 July 1853, it was also authorized to operate in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.[5] Josse-Pierre Matthieu became the company's director in 1841, and the Matthieu family kept it under its control until 1972.[2]

In 1857, Matthieu purchased the prestige building at present-day 54-56, rue Royale, where his family subsequently resided for over half a century.[6]: 358  The Compagnie de Bruxelles was headquartered at No. 56 (numbered 46 in 1895 and 52 in the early 20th century, before final renumbering in the early 1920s), together with the family-run Banque Matthieu. In 1909–1910, that building was rebuilt on a design by architect René Théry.[7] The Banque Matthieu was acquired by the Banque de Bruxelles in April 1928,[8] but the Compagnie de Bruxelles remained in the building on rue Royale until at least the mid-1950s.[9] By 1966, it had relocated to rue de la Loi 62, across the Small Ring of Brussels,[10] in a new office building erected in 1963.[11]

In 1972, the Matthieu family sold control of the Compagnie de Bruxelles to Eagle Star Insurance,[2] which in turn sold it in 1991 to the Belgian public financial institution ASLK/CGER.[12] It was subsequently privatized and acquired by AG Insurance in 1995, then merged into the Fortis brand in 2000.[13]: 17  By then, its registered office was still at rue de la Loi 62,[14]: 2  even though the building had been demolished during the 1990s.[11]

The company's emblem, reproduced on its fire insurance marks, represented Michael the Archangel, patron saint of Brussels, slaying the dragon.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Compagnie de Bruxelles Societe Anonyme Pour L'Assurance A Primes Contre L'Incendie, La Foudre Et Les Explosions". Chartered Insurance Institute. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Eric Meuwissen (2 August 1996). "J.J.L. Matthieu, châtelain de Wynendaele". Le Soir.
  3. ↑ Philippe Regnier (30 October 1993). "CB 1821 : La fin du métier d'assureur ?". Le Soir.
  4. ↑ "Incendie des palais du prince d'Orange et des Etats Généraux le 29 octobre 1820 à Bruxelles". Institut Royal du Patrimoine Artistique. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Quelques exemples". Assurances et industries au Luxembourg. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Paul Saintenoy (1934), "Les Arts et les Artistes à la Cour de Bruxelles. IIIe partie. Le Palais Royal du Coudenberg du règne d'Albert et Isabelle à celui d'Albert Ier, Roi des Belges", Mémoires de l'Académie royale de Belgique (6): 1–425
  7. ↑ "Ancienne Compagnie Internationale Forestière et Minière du Congo : Rue Royale 54-56". Région de Bruxelles-Capitale - Inventaire du Patrimoine Architectural. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "L'activité économique de la Belgique pendant le mois d'avril 1928" (PDF), Bulletin d'Information et de Documentation, Banque Nationale de Belgique: 459, 26 May 1928
  9. ↑ "Advert: Compagnie de Bruxelles" (PDF), Le Chasseur Ardennais: 2, 1955
  10. ↑ "Sociétés belges d'assurances à primes fixes agréées pour l'assurauce contre les accidents du travail" (PDF), Bulletin des Contributions (436), Belgian Ministry of Finance: 1741, December 1966
  11. 1 2 "Rue de la Loi 62 / Rue des Deux Eglises 1". Région de Bruxelles-Capitale - Inventaire du Patrimoine Architectural. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Jean-François Lanckmans (19 June 1991). "La CGER-Assurances rachète la société Eagle pour se développer dans le créneau des assurances non-vie". Le Soir.
  13. ↑ Historische lijst van de ingeschreven hypotheekondernemingen onder het K.B. nr. 225 van 7 januari 1936 betreffende de hypothecaire leningen en de controle op de ondernemingen van hypothecaire leningen (PDF), Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority, 31 December 2014
  14. ↑ "Liste des caisses communes d'assurance contre les accidents du travail et des sociétés d'assurances à primes fixes agréées aux fins de la loi du 10 avril 1971 sur les accidents du travail au 31 décembre 1999". etaamb.openjustice.be. 3 March 2000.
  15. ↑ "Médaille, Compagnie de Bruxelles". cgb.fr Numismatique. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
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