Need a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown Brussels? Let yourself be seduced by the timeless elegance of Woluwe Park, southeast of the capital. A true green oasis located in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, this immense green space covering nearly 70 hectares is one of the most bucolic places in the region. Between the serenity of its ponds and the rolling hills, this English-style natural gem offers a complete change of scenery. From the secrets of its design during the 1897 World’s Fair to the Brussels Urban Transport Museum, embark on an immersion combining wilderness and heritage in the heart of the city’s most chic green lung.
Woluwe Park: a royal immersion in sculpted nature
Woluwe Park was originally created at the behest of Leopold II for the 1897 World’s Fair. The former king of Belgium wanted to connect the center of the capital to his famous Tervueren estate. To do so, he called on Élie Lainé, a French landscape architect already famous for his work in France and England. The French artist’s mission was to transform a marshy valley into a huge park along Tervuren Avenue, focusing on refinement and elegance in order to attract the bourgeoisie of the time.
© Shutterstock
The result of the landscaping is quite simply a green masterpiece in the “English” style. Unlike more traditional gardens, Lainé favored relief here to offer a more receding perspective . With its natural undulations, Woluwe Park unfolds a rolling landscape in the heart of one of the largest parks in the Brussels metropolitan area. An aesthetic feat which, nearly 130 years later, continues to make this authentic treasure one of the most majestic in Brussels.
Romantic water mirrors and vintage trams: a cultural and gourmet stroll!
To prolong your visit, simply follow the paths that lead down to the heart of Woluwe Park, where large romantic ponds stretch out before you. These expanses of water are home to a wealth of wildlife, offering a comforting spectacle. Nestled on the shore is the famous Brasserie des Étangs, where you can enjoy nature in the heart of the city, on the terrace or in the charming veranda. Whether you’re looking for hot chocolate in the middle of winter or lunch in the sun, this exceptional place promises a gourmet and rejuvenating break.
© trammuseum.brussels
But the journey continues beyond the water’s edge. On the edge of the park, along the now iconic Avenue de Tervueren, lies the Brussels Urban Transport Museum or Tram Museum, classified as a historic monument in 2011. This site is like a time machine, housing a collection of old wooden trams, taxis, and buses that once circulated in the streets of the capital. When the warm weather returns, hop aboard the Brussels Tourist Tramway for an exclusive tour of the capital in a 1930s tram. This retro getaway is the perfect end to this nature and heritage excursion.
📍Avenue de Tervueren 1150, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Belgium