Founder
Albert VII, Archduke of Austria
Denominations
Mont-de-piété de Bruxelles; Mont-de-piété Berg van Barmhartigheid
Activity period
1618 – operating
Location
Nation/Country: Belgio - City: Bruxelles
History
Established at the behest of Albert VII, Archduke of Austria, and his wife Isabella, on a proposal by Wenceslas Cobergher, who had seen the Monti di Pietà in Italy. Mont-de-piété de Bruxelles began its activity September 28th, 1628, without ever interrupting it.
Activities
Pawnbroking
Regulatory framework
Law April 30th, 1848, and Regulation set by Brussels City Council. The Monte legally has the monopoly on the pawnbroking (Codice penale art. 306 and 307).
Internal organization
The board of directors is appointed by Brussels City Council and is presided over by the mayor.
Denomination
Mont-de-piété de Bruxelles (fund)
Date
1618-1810
Consistency
Registers 32, envelopes 34
Archive keeper
Algemeen Rijksarchief / Archives générales du Royaume
Archive keeper link
http://www.arch.be/
Archival history
The documentation is kept in a collection of funds with that produced by all the other Monti di pietà in Belgium.
Research tools
Inventaire des archives des Monts-de-Piété, pp. 19-24 [http://www.heuristiek.ugent.be/sites/default/files/overzicht/InventarisDelatteBergenvanBarmhartigheid.pdf]
Notes
This is the only Monte di Pietà still active in Belgium: http://www.montdepiete.be/