King Leopold II was an ambitious man. He was phenomenally rich and wished to turn his capital into the most impressive in the world. He instructed one of his favourite architects, Joseph Poelaert (1811-1879), to build a Palace of Justice on Galgenveld (Gallows Field, where criminals used to be hanged). Constructed during 1866-1883, it was for a long time the world's largest building. Poelaert went insane and died before his gigantic, neo-Gothic building was finished. Tours (lasting 1.5 hours) are free, but reserve two weeks in advance.