The World Tour in Laeken was meant to imitate the World Tour designed by Parisian architect Alexander Marcel (1860-1928) for the Paris Exposition of 1900. Inspired by King Leopold II, it was never completed owing to financial shortfalls and problems in securing property rights. Three sections of the project were completed: the Fontaine de Neptune (Neptune Fountain); the pavillion Chinois (Chinese Pavilion), completed by Marcel in 1909; and the Tour Japonais (Japanese Tower), a Buddhist pagoda erected in 1901-1904 and whose porch formed a part of the Paris original.
Historical Dictionary of Brussels. Paul F. State.