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Waterloo is mentioned for the first time in 1102 as a small village bordering a big forest – the Sonian forest – located on a the junction of a main road, linking Brussels and Genappe and a path leading to a farm, which could still be seen today. It was known as a place where merchants could rest safely during the night.

Waterloo was initially part of the Duchy of Brabant, the capital of which was Leuven in 1183, and the city extended gradually over the next three centuries. However, its extensive development only started in the 17^th century, when a Royal chapel was built here. It was enlarged in 1826 and remains as the foundation of today’s principal church. Following the French Revolution and the new ideas it inspired, the Holy Roman Emperor caused a stir by willing to impose reforms. The latter led to uprisings, the French invasion in 1794 and the abolition of the Ancien régime with the associated privileges enjoyed by the nobility and clergy.

Later on, in 1796 Waterloo was divided into two parishes - Grand-Waterloo and Petit-Waterloo and a new municipality-based system was established. Thus, the municipality of Waterloo was created from Petit-Waterloo, detached from Sint-Genesius-Rode and three former hamlets (Grand-Waterloo, Joli-Bois, Mont-Saint-Jean), detached from Braine-l’Alleud. In 1813, half of the hamlet of Chenois was detached from Braine-l’Alleud and was included in the territory of Waterloo. In 1824, the latter increased in size again as the areas Roussart and Sainte-Gertrude from the Sonian Forest (Foret de Soignes) became part of the municipality too.

In 1795, the invaded territories were split into nine departments. Some administrative units, including Waterloo, became part of the Dyle department, which became the province of Brabant Méridional in 1815 under the Dutch rule after the defeat of Napoleon. In 1830 when Belgium became independent, the town was included in the province of Brabant for 165 years.

Waterloo is famous for the Battle of Waterloo where in 1815 Napoleon was finally defeated by the joint European forces, thereby marking the end to the Napoleonic wars and the end of the First French Empire days later. At the time, Waterloo was part of the United Kingdom of The Netherlands. The famous battle took place on 18 June between the French army on the losing side and two armies of the Seventh coalition (Duke of Wellington’s British-led army and Marshal Blücher’s Prussian army).