The Anglo-Belgian Club (formerly the Royal Anglo-Belgian Club) was a private members' club located in

Northumberland Avenue Northumberland Avenue is a street in the City of Westminster, Central London, running from Trafalgar Square in the west to the Thames Embankment in the east. The road was built on the site of Northumberland House, the London home of the House ...

, London.

History

The club's roots can be traced to 1942, when the

Belgian government in exile The Belgian Government in London (french: Gouvernement belge à Londres, nl, Belgische regering in Londen), also known as the Pierlot IV Government, was the government in exile of Belgium between October 1940 and September 1944 during World W ...

founded the Belgian Institute in

Belgrave Square Belgrave Square is a large 19th-century garden square in London. It is the centrepiece of Belgravia, and its architecture resembles the original scheme of property contractor Thomas Cubitt who engaged George Basevi for all of the terraces for t ...

, to promote understanding of the country during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. After the war, the Institute evolved into the Royal Anglo-Belgian Club. At the end of the lease on the Belgrave Square house in 1978, the Club became associated with the

Royal Thames Yacht Club The Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC) is the oldest continuously operating yacht club in the world, and the oldest yacht club in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are located at 60 Knightsbridge, London, England, overlooking Hyde Park. The club ...

, sharing the latter's modern premises at 60 Knightsbridge. The joint RTYC-ABC clubhouse had an impressive first-floor dining room looking out over Hyde Park. On 1 July 2010, the Anglo-Belgian Club moved to another Club House near Trafalgar Square, which it shared with a hotel belonging to

Club Quarters Club Quarters Hotels are full-service hotels designed for business travelers with locations in the U.S. and U.K. Club Quarters was founded by American business executive Ralph Bahna, who opened the first Club Quarters Hotel on West 45th Street ...

. The Club closed its doors at the end of June 2012. Its social, cultural and sporting activities were taken over by the Anglo-Belgian Society.

Membership

The club was open to both men and women and had about 400 members, who were predominantly either Belgian citizens living in the United Kingdom or British citizens with Belgian connections. The final President of the Anglo-Belgian Club was

Prince Philippe of Belgium french: Philippe Léopold Louis Mariegerman: Philipp Leopold Ludwig Maria , house = Belgium , father = Albert II of Belgium , mother = Paola Ruffo di Calabria , birth_date = , birth_place = Belvédère Castle, Laeken, B ...

. , membership cost £330 per year, with a £249 rate for younger members and £185 for senior members. A joining fee of £100 was charged in the first year.

Notes and references

External links

* {{coord , 51, 30, 25, N, 0, 7, 34, W, type:landmark_region:GB-WSM, display=title Gentlemen's clubs in London 1942 establishments in England 2012 disestablishments in England Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster Belgian expatriates in England Belgium–United Kingdom relations

History

Membership

See also

Notes and references

External links