Directly in front of the Palais de Justice and near the Place Poelaert L'Ascenseur, this 47 meter / 154 foot tall column was initially created to commemorate the creation of the Belgian Constitution between 1830 and 1831. Atop the column is a status of Belgium's first king, Leopold I. Beneath the column is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There is allegedly a staircase inside the column but that clearly was not open today. The four sitting statues at the base represent the four liberties of the Constitution - the Liberty of Union, the Liberty of Worship, the Liberty of the Press and the Liberty of Education. Three plaques also adorn the column, deducated to those who lost their lives in World War I, World War II and to Belgian soldiers who were killed in the service of peace since 1945. read more