Which institution was founded as Belgium's central bank in 1850?

The National Bank of Belgium was founded in 1850 as Belgium's central bank.

It was established by a law of 5 May 1850 and began operating later that year. Before its creation, Belgium's financial system lacked a national institution with the modern central-bank role of issuing notes and acting as a lender to the banking system. The new bank helped organize monetary and credit conditions in the young Belgian state.

The National Bank of Belgium issued the Belgian franc for many decades. Since the introduction of the euro, it has been part of the Eurosystem and no longer controls a separate national currency. It continues to perform central-bank duties, including managing currency circulation, contributing to monetary-policy operations and supporting financial stability.

Its headquarters are in Brussels. The bank is distinct from commercial institutions such as KBC and BNP Paribas Fortis. Its official English name is National Bank of Belgium, while its Dutch and French names are Nationale Bank van België and Banque nationale de Belgique.