The decision to build the Brussels underground (metro) was taken in 1963. Work began in 1965 at the Schuman roundabout and the first sections linked the emerging European district to the place Sainte-Catherine. The subway opened on 20 September 1976. The main line runs 33 km (21 mi.) across the city east to west. The second line follows the inner ring road for 7.5 km (4.8 mi.). It intersects the main line at the Arts-Loi/Kunst-Wet and Simonis/Simonis stations. Four new stations opened in September 2003 in Anderlecht connecting the Bizet station to the Erasmus hospital. The stations are decorated with more than 60 works of art by various contemporary artists.
See also Transportation and Communications.
Historical Dictionary of Brussels. Paul F. State.