Rue Neuve (New Street), Brussels

New Street in Brussels is a pedestrian lane and reportedly one of, if not the, busiest shopping thoroughfare in all of Belgium. It runs north-south for approximately 600 meters, between Rogier Square and Mint Square, and is frequently referred to as Notre-Dame Street due to the presence of the Notre-Dame du Finistère Church in the middle.

Upon its creation in 1617, the street was purely residential. In 1839, it was extended to link with the newly-built North Railway Station, the proximity of which led to the construction of hotels for travelers. After the completion of the South Railway Station and the subsequent opening of South Street, New Street formed an element of the main north-south axis of Brussels.

It has been a center of commercial activity since the late 19th century and was known as a high-end shopping destination in the early 20th century. Among the most famous shops here at the time were the "Leonhard Tietz Department Stores" and especially the "Innovation" department store built in 1901. Sadly, the latter was destroyed by fire in 1967.

In the 20th century, the advent of cinematography led to the proliferation of cinemas and, from the 1920s, New Street became the "cinema" street. In 1932, the largest movie theater in Brussels, "Métropole", was built here, adorned with a giant bas-relief by Ossip Zadkine, one of the greatest masters of Cubist sculpture. In the 1980s, the cinema gave way to retail in the area.

Nowadays, New Street is flanked by a multitude of fashion, footwear, and cosmetics stores, along with historic shopping arcades, such as the Northern Passage, and shopping centers like City and Galeria Inno. Clothing and accessories chains like C&A, HEMA, and WE are also here. Additionally, you can find a diverse range of restaurants and fast food outlets catering to various budgets.

Since 1975, the street has been designated as a pedestrian zone, offering safety, although occasional cyclists may pass by, so watch out.