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The Place du Théâtre de la Monnaie, erected in 1819, was the centre of trade and tourism for Brussels throughout the 19th century. This square connects shopping galleries, the stock exchange, and the main post office. The Théâtre de la Monnaie, which was the main theatre of Brussels for a long time, also stimulated intellectual life, attracting people to the many nearby cafés. Located at the crossroads of the busy commercial life during the day, and the effervescence of nightlife, this square required city authorities to intervene substantially in order to implement very restrictive traffic rules. City officials thus went against the principle of economic liberalism that they claimed to be upholding. Thus, they experimented with an urban traffic policy that became increasingly complex as means of transport developed and entertainment venues grew more numerous and varied.