Brussels’ Parc du Cinquantenaire is reinventing itself to meet the challenges of today… and tomorrow. Greener, more accessible, more cultural too: this vast emblematic space is undergoing an ambitious renovation that will run until 2029. The aim? To offer a more sustainable, friendly and forward-looking venue to celebrate Belgium’s 200th birthday in style in 2030.
A park that prepares for the future without betraying its past
Cinquantenaire Park, Brussels’ picture postcard, is about to undergo an ambitious transformation. The aim is to breathe new life and coherence into this emblematic site, while meeting today’s ecological challenges. By 2030, the paths will be entirely redesigned using natural, permeable materials, the walkways will be given a new elegance, and the vegetation, denser and more diversified, will benefit from improved water management. A subtle blend of heritage and sustainability.
Nature, sport and culture at the heart of a single project
The project doesn’t stop at plants: it also reinvents uses. The water feature and rain gardens will contribute to more intelligent resource management, while the sports areas will be better integrated into the landscape. A more compact athletics track, modernized multi-sports fields and even relaxation areas such as petanque courts will punctuate the promenade. All designed for all publics, without altering the spirit of the place.
Towards a living, connected and inspiring space
The park is also set to become more lively, welcoming and inspiring. Lighting will be subtly redesigned to enhance the architecture without harming the wildlife. Street furniture will be redesigned, as will access – with a new entrance to make coming and going more fluid. The Omer Vanaudenhove pavilion will reopen as Pavi’On, the beating heart of future cultural events. This renewal is part of a wider dynamic, that of Belgium’s bicentenary in 2030, a key moment when the park will shine once again! It’s not the only initiative of its kind: Forest Park has also just been renovated. On a different note, the Brussels-Capital Region has just classified the Parc Tenbosch in Ixelles, a veritable arboretum.