Where Lime Trees Grow: Stade des Trois Tilleuls

Words: Edwin Westland

Images: Edwin Westland

Stade des Trois Tilleuls was inaugurated on November 11, 1948 with a gala match between Royal Racing Brussels and what is now Torino FC.

Torino were nicknamed 'Il Grande Torino' and won five titles in a row in the period.

40,000 people turned up to the Brussels stadium to see a 0-3 win for Torino.

Tragically, the legendary football team would be no more on May 4 1949 just months after the match, when the entire Torino side died in a plane crash.

The name Stade des Trois Tilleuls refers to a nearby highest natural place in Brussels with three lime trees.

Seven streets end at this roundabout.

©Edwin Westland/ Terrace Edition. Stade des Trois Tilleuls.

Today only two lime trees are left on this roundabout, one linden tree has died in the meantime.

Stade des Trois Tilleuls (Het Drie Lindenstadion) is still largely how it was when it was inaugurated in 1948, a massive monument to football in Belgium.

The uncovered terraces are currently no longer accessible to the general public for matches and the crush barriers gone.

In theory, the stadium could still hold 40,000 spectators but has played host to lower league side RRC Boitsfort.

In 2010 Trois Tilleuls was listed as a site of national architectural importance.

Stade des Trois Tilleuls

Léopold Wienerlaan

60 1170 Watermaal-Bosvoorde (Bruxelles),

Belgium