Petite-Espinette
{{Short description|Neighbourhood in Brussels, Belgium}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Petite-Espinette
| native_name = {{small|{{unbulleted list|{{native name|fr|Petite-Espinette}}|{{native name|nl|Kleine Hut}}}}}}
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = Neighbourhood
| image_skyline = Drève Saint-Hubert.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Junction of the Chaussée de Waterloo/Waterloosesteenweg and the {{Lang|fr|Drève Saint-Hubert|italic=no}}/{{Lang|nl|Sint-Hubertusdreef|italic=no}} in the Sonian Forest, near the border with Sint-Genesius-Rode.
| etymology =
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = Belgium Brussels#Belgium
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Brussels
| coordinates = {{coord|50|46|10.2918|N|4|22|57.9004|E|type:city_region:BE|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Belgium
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = Brussels-Capital Region
| subdivision_type2 = Arrondissement
| subdivision_name2 = Brussels-Capital
| subdivision_type3 = Municipality
| subdivision_name3 = Uccle
| named_for = Hunting cabin
| area_total_km2 =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_as_of =
| population_total =
| timezone1 = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 1180
| area_code = 02
| area_code_type = Area codes
| website =
| references =
}}
{{Lang|fr|Petite-Espinette|italic=no}} (French, {{IPA|fr|pətˈit-ɛspinˈɛt|pron}}) or {{Lang|fr|Kleine Hut|italic=no}} (Dutch, {{IPA|nl|ˈklaɪnə hʊt|pron}}), is a district of Uccle, a municipality of Brussels, Belgium. Located in the south of Uccle, along the Chaussée de Waterloo/Waterloosesteenweg at the level of the {{Lang|fr|Drève Saint-Hubert|italic=no}}/{{Lang|nl|Sint-Hubertusdreef|italic=no}} on the border with Sint-Genesius-Rode. Ferraris map, 1770.{{Cite web |title=TopoMapViewer |url=https://topomapviewer.ngi.be/?_gl=1*1vuvsgq*_ga*ODA4Nzk1NTU5LjE3NDU3NDI0NDk.*_ga_KMBVEP5R2C*MTc0NTc0MjQ0OS4xLjEuMTc0NTc0MjQ3OC4wLjAuMA..&l=en&baselayer=crossborder.topo&x=651832.01&y=662979.33&zoom=6 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=topomapviewer.ngi.be}}
Etymology
The name has been in use for several centuries and appears on historical maps, such as the Ferraris map from the late 18th century. It is found written both as {{Lang|fr|Petite-Espinette}} and {{Lang|fr|Petite Espinette}}. The Dutch name, {{Lang|nl|Kleine Hut}} ("small hut"), likely refers to a small wooden house with a tiled roof. Conversely, the French-speaking inhabitants of Waterloo and Braine-l'Alleud observed mainly thorny bushes ({{Lang|fr|espinettes}}) along the route, which influenced the French designation. It remains uncertain which name predates the other, although both have been established for centuries.{{Cite web |date=2002-08-23 |title=Toponymie (10) Histoires oubliées au coin des rues Des Espinettes qui piquent très fort |url=https://www.lesoir.be/art/toponymie-10-histoires-oubliees-au-coin-des-rues-des-es_t-20020823-Z0M649.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Le Soir |language=fr}}{{Cite news |last=SCHEPERS |first=JELLE |title=Gevoelig foutje in faciliteitengemeente: drie straatnamen “verkeerd vertaald” naar het Frans |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160819_02431207 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20190607070813/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160819_02431207 |archive-date=2019-06-07 |access-date=2025-04-27 |work=Het Nieuwsblad |language=nl-BE}}{{Cite book |title=Dictionnaire d'histoire de Bruxelles |date=2013 |publisher=Éditions Prosopon |isbn=978-2-930682-01-3 |language=fr |trans-title=Brussels History Dictionary}}
History
In the 15th century, there was an inn called Saint-Hubert. It was destroyed in the 18th century following a legal dispute.
The area also became notable as the terminus of {{Interlanguage link|Brussels tram route W|lt=Line W|fr|Ligne de tramway W (SNCV Groupe de Bruxelles Sud)}} line operated by the National Company of Light Railways. This tram line, inaugurated in 1894, was the SNCV's first electrified route and primarily served to transport city dwellers to the outskirts of the Sonian Forest for leisure purposes. The line was later extended towards Waterloo, Braine-l'Alleud, and Wavre.
As of 2018, Petite-Espinette continues to serve as the name of a bus stop connecting Brussels with Waterloo and Braine-l'Alleud. In contemporary Dutch usage, Kleine Hut also denotes the nearby shopping area situated along the Chaussée de Waterloo, at the border between Uccle and Rhode-Saint-Genèse. This area is renowned for its boutiques and restaurants and is regarded as a prestigious suburban neighbourhood.{{Cite web |title=Quartiers |url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://jaimeuccle.be/quartiers.html#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=archive.wikiwix.com}}