English: Pierre-Jacques Goetghebuer (1788-1866) became professor of architecture in Ghent, after his studies for architectural drawing at the local art academy.

From 1817 he started working on a publication with images of the most remarkable buildings from the newly created United Kingdom of the Netherlands. This book would include both old and contemporary, neoclassicist buildings.

Most of the 120 plates depict buildings from the Southern Netherlands, especially Brussels and Ghent. Goetghebuer executed the engravings based upon his own sketches or designs by the architects themselves. Other artists finished the engravings in aquatint. Goetghebuer published this collection of engravings in 1827 with publisher André Benoît II Steven, and he dedicated them to King William I. Many buildings in this book have since disappeared, hence its significant historical importance.

Also published in Dutch, with the title Verzameling der merkwaardigste gebouwen in het Koningrijk der Nederlanden.