Close your eyes and imagine... Instead of houses and shops, horses racing in front of packed stands. All of Brussels takes the tram to go to the races. People come to Stokkel to place bets, go for a stroll, and enjoy the fresh air on the edge of the Sonian Forest. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, Stokkel is still a village outside Brussels. A hamlet surrounded by fields and hollow paths. Then, a racecourse is built. The neighbourhood takes on a new energy. Cafés open. Hotels spring up. The streets come alive on race days. 

But the story doesn’t end there. 

In 1910, the racecourse becomes an aerodrome. On the occasion of the Universal Exhibition the first planes take off from Stokkel. They fly above the stands as spectators watch in awe. Brussels is discovering a whole new world:  aviation. 

Today, few traces of that time remain. Yet Stokkel is still a vibrant neighbourhood. The tram still runs through it. So does the metro. And on the walls of the station, Tintin waits for the metro with you. 

Behind its peaceful streets and bustling shopping district, Stokkel hides an unexpected past. A neighbourhood where people once came to watch horses race… and planes take flight.