Senne the main river of Brussels is covered up and later diverted in 1867, as a series of grand boulevards and public buildings is built over it, that would constitute the modern day city.

Senne was Brussel's main river, but had become more polluted, less navigable, with the city's rapid growth. And frequent flooding of the working class neighbourhoods. The proposal to cover it, initially faced stiff opposition from many.

The opposition was mainly due to the high costs and the necessity of demolishing working-class neighborhoods.

The project was a precursor to the concept of "Brusselization," which describes the rapid, often criticized urban development that characterized Brussels' changes.