Leopold II of Belgium

Biography

Leopold II reigned as King of the Belgians during a period of immense national development, overseeing public works, cultural institutions, and the creation of urban parks. He invested deeply in the capital’s architecture, leaving a stately, if debated, urban legacy.

His tenure is also remembered for the complex history of colonial endeavors, and in later years he devoted himself to philanthropy and the arts as he delineated his long reign.