After Napoleon Bonaparte’s daring escape from Elba, the European powers banded together once again, forming the Seventh Coalition to end the Napoleon threat once and for all. At war with the rest of Europe, Napoleon’s forces gather near Waterloo, a town in what was the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is here where Napoleon will give battle against Arthur Wellesley, the United Kingdom’s 1st Duke of Wellington, in what will be known as the historic Battle of Waterloo.
In the years that followed, hundreds if not thousands of places derive their name from the Battle of Waterloo, signifying its significance. I visited a small number of these places and discuss my experiences.
A Brief History
After climbing the ranks in the aftermath of the First French Revolution, Napoleon’s strategic genius led France to new heights. After crowning himself emporer, Napoleon led five victorious campaigns against numerous powers in continental Europe. His feats took France to new heights and resulted in the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, putting an end to the nearly thousand year old state. His reign lasted over a decade, with his decline coming after a disastrous invasion of Russia and the loss of most of his army in 1812. Seeing their opportunity, many states that were formerly beaten into submission defected and formed the Sixth Coalition which successfully ended the Napoleon threat in the Battle of Leipzig.
Finally defeated, Napoleon was exiled to Elba to remain there as the island’s ruler. All in all, the terms were fairly generous, and yet Napoleon remained dissatisfied. Without even a year passing, Napoleon made his escape and found himself in the welcoming arms of the French populace that had grown resentful of the restored Bourbon monarchy. With his looming presence threatening Europe once more, the various European powers mobilized and launched the War of the Seventh Coalition.
The war culminated in the Battle of Waterloo, where the outnumbered Duke of Wellington sought to stall Napoleon’s forces until the arrival of Prussian reinforcements under the command of Field Marshall Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. His strategy proved successful and his bolstered army overwhelmed Napoleon at Waterloo, defeating him once and for all. Napoleon was exiled again, but this time to the remote deserted island of Saint Helena where he lived out the rest of his days. Though ultimately defeated, he left a lasting impact on Europe so great that Waterloo has become a name known throughout the world, with hundreds of places named in honor of the battle.
Visiting Waterloo
Over the past years, I’ve had the privilege of traveling across Europe. Realizing that hundreds of places bore the name “Waterloo”, especially in the United Kingdom’s former sphere of influence, I resolved myself to visit at least a fraction of them. I visited dozens of Waterloos across 4 continents so far, including stations, roads, towns, and even a university. This post only considers what I term “maximal Waterloos”. That is, Waterloos that are not contained within a larger place named Waterloo. For example, a restaurant named Waterloo Fish & Chips located within the town of Waterloo is not counted in this list, but the town itself is. This post is a living document which I will update with new Waterloos as I visit them.
The List
This list is in chronological order. That is, the order in which I visited the Waterloos. The tiers, in order of highest to lowest, are S, A, B, C, and D.
Waterloo Road, Hong Kong
The first Waterloo in the list is the only one in Asia. Quite fitting that it is in Hong Kong, the former British territory. This is a major road in the Kowloon area and it is actually not far off from being a highway. The sidewalk is littered with daycares and schools but it is otherwise unexciting. This road also has a Chinese translation.
Rank: B
Waterloo Place, New York City, New York
Although there are dozens, possibly hundreds of Waterloos in the United States, this is the only one on the list. This very short road is located in The Bronx. It is purely residential and there is not much to see beyond some run down houses. It is the second smallest Waterloo on this list.
Rank: D
Waterloo, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
The next dozen or so Waterloos are all in the United Kingdom. It should come as no surprise that the UK has the most, excepting possibly the United States. Waterloo, Huddersfield is small suburb where not much seems to happen. There are boring brick houses and a sparse amount of shops, many of which also have Waterloo in the name. Truly, the only thing to do in Waterloo, Huddersfield is to leave.
Rank: C
Waterloo Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
This is a respectably sized and fairly busy road in the city of Manchester. While, here, I had the opportunity to visit my friend’a Alma Mater, Manchester University, and explore its gorgeous campus. I walked along much of its length. One highlight is that this road is serviced by buses, so I was not forced to walk back to civilization. On the topic of buses, payment by tap using credit card is available at even the remotest stops which is convenient. This being said, one of the regions I went to is serviced by two different companies. Imagine my shock when my day pass that I purchased on one of the buses wasn’t valid on another, despite the two covering roughly the same area.
Rank: B
Waterloo, Liverpool, United Kingdom
A slightly more vibrant suburb, this time in the city of Liverpool. Waterloo, Liverpool is quite lively with pubs and other shops lining the street. I enjoyed chatting with the locals too. The place is easily reached by metro and depicted below is a sign at the Waterloo subway station.
Rank: A
Waterloo Road, Liverpool, United Kingdom
A second Waterloo in Liverpool. This one is a road in the main city. Though the road mainly serves the cars rushing by with nothing but a brick wall by the sidewalk, the city of Liverpool itself is a fantastic destination. Located at the coast of the River Mersey which feeds into the Atlantic, the seafood is of course delicious. There is modern looking architecture and the streets are clean by UK standards. However, the Waterloo Road itself offers little of this.
Rank: B
Waterloo, Whixall, United Kingdom
By far the most remote Waterloo on this list. My journey started in Whitchurch, a remote and medieval resembling village with a population of 10,000 where I grabbed a Bangers and Mash from a tavern. I was lucky that a single Uber happened to be in the area, he told me he just drove a client here from a city hours away. We arrived at Dobson’s bridge where I waved my Uber driver farewelll and began to explore this most inaccessible Waterloo.
I started with a coffee from the Whixall Marina Cafe where I got to admire the local scenery and docked boats. Exploring a bit further, it seems that this Waterloo consists of a cluster of farms. As I walked along the unmarked road, farmers riding on horseback trotted by me and waved hello. At one point I was misled by Google Maps, indicating a trail through a massive field that turned out not to exist. At most, there was a barely noticeable desire path that seemed only amenable to horses. Having no choice but to trek through the dense shrubbery, I arrived at the other side to the sight of… even more farms!
As the sun passed its zenith I had to make arrangements for my return back to civilization. At this point I was starting to regret allowing my Uber driver to leave. In hindsight, I perhaps should have paid him to wait on me. Stranded about 3 hours on foot from the nearest train station and without a taxi in sight, I decided my best option was a ride from a friendly local. Arriving at an isolated home with horses and a nice cat named Freya in the backyard, the family inside agreed to drive me to the neighboring town of Wem where I could wait on a train to evacuate me. Thanking them with a 5 pound note, I was saved and on my way to the next Waterloo. Truly an unforgettable experience.
Rank: S
Waterloo Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom
My journey took me out of England and into Wales, arriving at the bustling city of Cardiff. The streets were lined with vibrant with fanfare when I arrived, in the middle of a Pride Parade. I had Shepard’s Pie for lunch with a Sticky Toffee Pudding as dessert. Frankly, this trip changed my outlook on British food, the Sticky Toffee Pudding was sublime! Waterloo Road, on the other hand, is located far away from the busy city center and is an unremarkable and secluded road consisting purely of residential houses. Moving through an urban city is a nice change of pace however.
Rank: C
Waterloo, Caerphilly, United Kingdom
Not too far from Cardiff is the town of Caerphilly, but I ventured to the more remote hamlet of Ty’n-y-coedcae then to its neighborhood by the name of Waterloo. This area is distinctly Welsh, with the arcane language omnipresent on all the signage. The Waterloo itself is a quaint and bougie neighborhood, the silence interrupted only by a dog barking at me from within a house. The nearby farm hosts a variety of livestock including sheep and chickens. There is also a daycare sporting an ice cream parlour where I stopped for a quick dessert.
Rank: B
Waterloo Street, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Returning to England I arrive at the city of Portsmouth. This city is also quite pleasant with a view of the English channel. That being said, the suburb that is home to Waterloo Street is dirty with overflowing waste bins and contains nothing but unimpressive looking detached houses. Picking up some chips from a convenience store, I return to the city center for Fish and Chips at a busy restaurant. The food is delicious but brimming with empty calories.
Rank: D
Waterlooville, Hampshire, United Kingdom
To the north of Portsmouth is the town of Waterlooville. The signage problaims it as a “twinned town” with Maurepas, France and Hanstedt-Ulzburg, Germany. A vibrant town whose town center truly made me feel like I was in a medieval style RPG with well coded NPCs going about their lives. Truly a surreal experience. As a memento, I went to the local library and picked up a library card for myself. Of all the Waterloos on this list, Waterlooville felt the most alive. The locals are friendly and appear all around happy. This town strikes just the right balance between the chaos of an urban city and the quiet of a small village. It is bursting with life yet does not feel overstimulating.
Rank: S
Waterloo Station, London, United Kingdom
Of course this list would not be complete without a visit to the gargantuan Waterloo Station in central London. The scale of this Waterloo was truly impressive, a massive complex bigger than some of the neighborhoods on this list. The station is crowded and lined with shops, I picked up an Oyster card and explored the surrounding area which was almost as busy. This wasn’t my first time visiting London or even the Waterloo Station, but the enormous size did not cease to impress. Going along with the businesses, however, are dirty sidewalks, the constant presence of car horns, and the double decker red buses that never run on time.
Rank: A
Waterloo Place, London, United Kingdom
Not far away from the station or Buckingham Palace, and situated next to St James’s Square is the especially tiny Waterloo Place. Not much to see on the street itself, but its central location makes popular locations in central London accessible from it. The street itself is nice enough, with interesting buildings and a Pride Flag visible in the photograph below.
Rank: B
Waterlooplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Waterlooplein is actually a street of some note in Amsterdam. Centrally located, the street features a flea market and serves as a minor tourist attraction. It was bustling with activity when I visited and I enjoyed the cozy and lively atmosphere. Of course, the location makes stopping by convenient for any tourist finding themselves in Amsterdam.
Rank: A
Naald van Waterloo, Baarn, Netherlands
The Naald van Waterloo is a monument commemorating the battle, built on the side of a road in the municipality of Baarn and surrounded by farmland. The tower is fairly unassuming and the engraving describing its purpose has worn out over the years. Getting here wasn’t easy due to its remote location, and I had to call a Bolt (European Uber) in order to get back to civilization.
Rank: D
Waterlooweg, Austerlitz, Netherlands
I now arrive at the last Waterloo in the Netherlands. Waterlooweg is a small road located in the ironically named village of Austerlitz. Austerlitz was named by Napoleon’s brother, Louis, in honor of Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. Waterlooweg, I imagine, was named much later. The road is unassuming, typical houses line one side and a park with lush greenery lines the other. I stopped at a nearby local bar to await my bus to my next location. Disaster struck, however, as my visit to Waterlooweg happened to coincide with Crowdstrike’s 2024 outage, which seemed to take out the buses running that day. I was sitting at the bus stop completely unaware of the issue when a Dutch couple approached me and informed me that the bus would not be coming. They instead called a taxi, and since we were going to the same location they generously invited me to join them and would not accept when I offered to pay for part of the fare. Their hospitality left an incredibly positive impression of my visit, even though the Waterloo I initially came for did not have much to offer.
Rank: B
Boulevard de Waterloo, Brussels, Belgium
After leaving the Netherlands, my adventure takes me to Belgium, ultimately towards the original Waterloo. The site of Napoleon’s battle with the Duke of Wellington. Upon arriving in Brussels, I walked by the Boulevard de Waterloo, an innocuous street in the world’s diplomatic hub. This Waterloo was not actually a planned visit, I encountered it completely by accident. Apparently it’s a major road, and lined with commercial buildings. I didn’t find it all that impressive, though.
Rank: C
Waterloo, Belgium
Finally, the ultimate Waterloo. The original, after which all other Waterloos were named. Getting here was a hassle, it probably would have been much easier if I rented a car. The Battle of Waterloo did not technically take place in Waterloo. Rather, it took place in the neighboring town of Braine l’Alleud, which is where I got off my train. Although there is bus service to the site of the battle, I walked most of the way since the bus schedule was not very convenient. The site is a minor tourist attraction, featuring a memorial and museum. Excited to see some interesting exhibits, I arrived with bated breath and…
I was pretty disappointed. There is a lion monument on top an artificial hill to commemorate the battle, commissioned by the king of the Netherlands in 1820. Murals lined the museum walls, with plaques telling of various aspects of the battle. I would have liked to see some actual artifacts, but most of the museum were reconstructed models and images. There was a live demonstration outside, featuring marching patterns and how 19th century muskets were used during the battle. I picked up a bottle of whiskey from the gift shop and went on my way. I timed my exit with the bus that I intended to take on my way out, but to my dismay I watched the bus arrive and leave without even slowing down at the stop. I suspect I had to try harder to flag it down, or the bus driver just wasn’t paying attention. Whatever the case, I had to walk most of the way back to the train station in uncomfortable scorching heat.
All in all, while the original Waterloo did have more going on than most of the ones on this list, I expected a lot more.
Rank: B
Waterloo Ave, Toronto, Ontario
After returning home from my stay in Europe, I visited a small Waterloo Avenue in downtown Toronto. It was quite dark out, in a residential neighbourhood that honestly did not feel all that safe. The avenue was very short, and there was nothing of note in terms of content, just single detached housing. Some people were outside doing some potentially illicit activities. At least it was nice to be home.
Rank: D
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
The University of Waterloo is my alma mater, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Software Engineering. It holds many great memories, and many not-so-great memories. Although my initial reflection of my experience was more negative than positive, a later retrospective analysis is quite a bit more charitable. Although technically the “maximal Waterloo” rule mandates that I review the city of Waterloo itself, to me the university is more significant so I will choose to use it to represent the city at large as well, which I will also discuss here.
The city of Waterloo is quite boring. The food scene is not great, saving a few standouts (e.g. Odd Duck). It has a small population and there is not much to do in terms of activities. There is a large unhoused population that sometimes does not leave you alone. The winters are bleak, the water is incredibly hard, and it is a 2 hour drive from Toronto. At least the public transport is adequate by North America standards.
The university campus itself is nothing special. I have a separate university tier list where the University of Waterloo ranks a C. There are some nice areas, such as the E7 (engineering) building and the rock garden. This is outweighed, however, by the abundance of dungeon-like buildings such as MC, which has an elevator that I got stuck in before. During my PhD interviews, I spoke with a former Waterloo professor who left, specifically citing the dreary atmosphere of the campus and city at large.
Contrary to what many alumni might think however, in my opinion the university is actually managed quite well. This might skew my ranking a bit even though it technically does not factor into the aesthetics and environment of the Waterloo.
Rank: B
Waterloo Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Boston was one of my stops when I was attending PhD visit days. I made sure to visit the city’s Waterloo Street while I had business there anyways. It was quite a hassle getting there, even though Boston has okay-ish public transport for North America. This street is also quite boring, there aren’t even many buildings to speak of. It’s really just a road meant purely for driving on the way to somewhere else, and not really anyone’s destination or home.
Rank: C
Waterloo Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia
After graduating, I went with a friend to visit Nova Scotia. It was my first time in the Maritimes in over a decade. This Waterloo Street was located next to the Dalhousie University campus, which we also explored. Unfortunately, it was raining pretty hard and we were caught out without umbrellas. This Waterloo is just a residential street, but its proximity to Dalhousie campus made it somewhat more interesting. Dalhousie is a domineering presence in Halifax. Aside from the main campus, it owns numerous buildings throughout the city.
Rank: B
Waterloo Court, London, United Kingdom
My friend was exploring London during my internship at Oracle Zurich. I decided to visit her, and scope out this Waterloo Court while I was at it. Unfortunately, the main gate was locked and I could only peer in from the outside. I can only judge it by what I was allowed to see as a member of the public, which is practically nothing.
Rank: D
Rue John Waterloo Wilson, Brussels, Belgium
Also during my tenure at Oracle, my friend, who I had not seen since high school, was on an internship at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels. I paid her a visit and stumbled upon this road by complete accident. It’s a fairly standard residential road, but it had more charm than the others. Perhaps because it was centrally located and within walking distance to commercial districts and tourist attractions. It also bore a bus stop that I had a number of transfers at, so it seems well connected as well. Overall, it might be my favourite Waterloo street.
Rank: A
Waterloo Park, Austin, Texas
Some time after starting my PhD, I visited my friend who had recently begun working full time in Austin, Texas. Centrally located in Austin (or as centrally located something can be in a city as sprawling as this) is the vibrant Waterloo Park. While not a large area, interesting sculptures, twisting walkways, and shade from trees make it a welcome respite from the bland Austin buildings and Texan heat. Indeed, this park is something an average tourist might enjoy separately from the fact that it bears the name Waterloo. Actually, the city of Austin was originally named Waterloo when the settlement was founded. The Waterloo Park is probably a nod to this fact.
Rank: S
Waterloo Street, San Francisco, California
Upon completion of the first semester of my PhD, I made a trip to San Francisco; primarily to visit friends, but also to scope out its Waterloo Street. The street is short and in the middle of heavy traffic. Really, this general area only seems to exist mainly for cars to transit through the many highways and roads. The Waterloo Street itself is next to a Lowe’s warehouse, where I saw numerous people loading up home improvement supplies into their cars. The street is short, and for some reason littered with trash. There’s really no reason for a lone pedestrian to ever be here.
Rank: D
Waterloo, Nickerie, Suriname
This Waterloo is the most remote so far, and was also visited during the break between the Fall and Spring semester. Arriving returning to roost in Atlanta for one day, I headed to Miami for a quick vacation, but primarily chosen as the most convenient layover to Suriname. This lesser known country in South America is home to less than 600,000 people. Over 90% of the country is forested – the most forested country by percentage. I plan to make an entire blog post about this trip, but for now I’ll give the short version.
The Nickerie district is on Suriname’s remote western border, next to Guyana. Getting there involved an over 4 hour long bus ride that departed at the brink of dawn, at 6:30am. The Waterloo itself is at the outskirts of the town of Nieuw Nickerie, maybe an hour walk from the town center. Actually, the main reason for my visit was the abandoned Waterloo sugar plantation in the nearby jungle, from which the Waterloo settlement derives its name. However, not much of the sugar plantation remains, so I chose to feature the settlement instead. Indeed, it is perhaps more appropriate to showcase the country’s efforts to revitalize the area and claim it for its people, rather than the dark history of colonial slavery that took place at the now decrepit plantation. The people in Nieuw Nickerie and Waterloo are quite nice, and I enjoyed my short time there. The rich history of the area also fascinated me and elevated the experience.
Rank: A
Summary
In the meantime, I hope to continue expanding my collection whilst learning about different regions of the world and gathering stories along the way. I’ve found my journey to be productive in terms of personal growth as well. Visiting some of these Waterloos has involved navigating situations that required effective communication and getting along with people with distinct cultures and language. It hasn’t always been easy, and it sometimes requires a great deal of trust to put yourself in the care of strangers1. Upon reflection, much of my difficulties could have been avoided if I had rented a car for Waterloos that weren’t in urban areas, but arguably the adventure and challenge is part of the fun2.
I’ve added an HTML rendered tier list below that summarizes my rankings.
Waterloo Tier List
