Palace of Laeken, Brussels

Name: Palace of Laeken
Address: Brussels, Belgium

#19 among attractions in Brussels

Forts and castles

Gallery (13)

Map

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Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY 3.0 / Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / Public domain / Daderot / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Ad Meskens / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Chemical Engineer / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Drow male / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / Public domain / Daderot / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / MichielDMN / URL

Facts and practical information

The Palace of Laeken, a regal emblem of Brussels, stands as a testament to Belgium's rich royal history. This stately castle, set within expansive grounds, serves as the official residence of the Belgian Royal Family. It is situated in the Laeken neighborhood of the city and offers a picturesque backdrop with its elegant architecture and verdant gardens.

Constructed in the 19th century under the reign of King Leopold I, the Palace of Laeken was designed by architect Charles Vander Straeten. It was later renovated and expanded by Alphonse Balat, with the addition of a grand conservatory known as the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, which is a marvel of glass and steel.

Though the palace itself is not open to the public, as it is the private residence of the monarch, the Royal Greenhouses are accessible to visitors for a few weeks each spring. This brief opening period allows a glimpse into the botanical wonders and the architectural splendor that the grounds of the Palace of Laeken hold.

The palace's facade is characterized by a neoclassical style, with its grand columns and ornate detailing. It has witnessed numerous historical events and has been the home of successive Belgian monarchs. The surrounding park and gardens are meticulously maintained, featuring a variety of flora, sculptures, and serene water features.

Local name: Château de Laeken Architectural style: NeoclassicismCoordinates: 50°53'14"N, 4°21'34"E

Address

Bruxelles-Ville (Domaine Royal Laeken)Brussels Belgium

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Day trips

Palace of Laeken – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Mini-Europe, Atomium, Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, King Baudouin Stadium.

1 miNW
Park
Mini-Europe, Brussels
27 min walk • Nestled on the edge of the Heysel Park in Brussels, Belgium, Mini-Europe is a charming park that offers visitors a unique journey through the European Union in miniature. This delightful attraction showcases replicas of the most famous buildings and monuments from...
0.9 miNW
Specialty museum, Museum, Sculpture
Atomium, Brussels
25 min walk • The Atomium is an iconic landmark towering over the Brussels skyline with its futuristic and unique design. Constructed for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (Expo 58), this architectural marvel stands at an impressive height of 102 meters and represents an iron crystal...
~430 ftN
Palace
Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, Brussels
3 min walk • The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, an architectural masterpiece of iron and glass, stand as a testament to Belgium's rich heritage, located within the grounds of the Royal Palace of Laeken in Brussels. Constructed in the 19th century, these grandiose greenhouses are a...
1.3 miNW
Sport venue, Sport, Arenas and stadiums
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
32 min walk • The King Baudouin Stadium, a beacon of sports and entertainment, stands proudly in the city of Brussels, Belgium. This iconic sport venue has a storied history and is known for hosting a plethora of significant events, including football matches, athletics...
0.5 miN
Museum, Art museum, Specialty museum
Museums of the Far East, Brussels
12 min walk • Nestled in the heart of Brussels, the Museums of the Far East stand as an exquisite cultural gateway to the arts and history of the Asian continent. These museums, a complex comprising the Chinese Pavilion, the Japanese Tower, and the Museum of Japanese Art, offer...
0.6 miS
Church, Joseph Poelaert, Gothic Revival architecture
Church of Our Lady of Laeken, Brussels
16 min walk • The Church of Our Lady of Laeken, with its towering Gothic Revival spires, is a majestic sight in the heart of Brussels, Belgium. This 19th-century church stands as a tribute to the memory of Queen Louise-Marie, the first Queen of the Belgians, who passed away in 1850.
1.1 miSE
Museum, Specialty museum
Train World, Brussels
28 min walk • Train World is a railway museum in Belgium and the official museum of the National Railway Company of Belgium. It is situated in the preserved buildings of Schaarbeek railway station and in a new shed built to its north.
1.1 miNW
Museum, Observatories and planetariums
Planetarium, Brussels
28 min walk • The Planetarium of the Royal Observatory of Belgium is a Belgian planetarium on the Heysel Plateau in Brussels and part of the institutions of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office.
1.3 miSW
Museum, History museum, René Magritte
René Magritte Museum, Brussels
33 min walk • René Magritte Museum is a museum in Jette, a municipality in Brussels, Belgium, devoted to the Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte. The museum is located at 135, rue Esseghem/Esseghemstraat, in the house where Magritte lived and worked for 24 years, between 1930 and 1954.
0.6 miSW
Cemetery
Laeken Cemetery, Brussels
16 min walk • Laeken Cemetery in Brussels is the city's oldest cemetery still in function and the resting place of the Belgian Royal Family. It is known as the Belgian Père Lachaise, after Paris' notorious cemetery, because it is the burial place of the rich and the famous and for the abundance of its funerary heritage.
~1850 ftNW
Forts and castles
Belvédère Castle, Brussels
9 min walk • Belvédère Castle is a Belgian royal residence in Laeken, Belgium, which currently houses Albert II of Belgium and his wife, Queen Paola of Belgium.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Palace of Laeken?

Nearby attractions include Castle of Westerlo, Brussels (2 min walk), Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, Brussels (3 min walk), Belvédère Castle, Brussels (9 min walk), Tour Japonaise, Brussels (11 min walk).

How to get to Palace of Laeken by public transport?

The nearest stations to Palace of Laeken:

Bus

Serres Royales - Koninklijke Serres • Lines: 230, 231, 232, 53 (5 min walk)
Schola Europea • Lines: 230, 231, 232, 53 (8 min walk)

Tram

Araucaria • Lines: 3, 7 (12 min walk)
Buissonnets - Braambosjes • Lines: 3, 7 (13 min walk)

Train

Bockstael (19 min walk)
Schaerbeek - Schaarbeek (27 min walk)

Ferry

Pont Van Praet - Van Praet brug • Lines: Wb (19 min walk)
Quai de Heembeek - Heembeekkaai • Lines: Wb (25 min walk)

Metro

Stuyvenbergh • Lines: 6 (20 min walk)
Bockstael • Lines: 6 (20 min walk)