Jardin du Maelbeek

Park in Brussels, Belgium

50°50′38″N 4°43′32″E / 50.84389°N 4.72556°E / 50.84389; 4.72556Created13 May 1951Public transit accessMaelbeek/Maalbeek

The Jardin de la vallée du Maelbeek (French) or Maalbeekdaltuin (Dutch) is a small green space on the corner of the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat and the Chaussée d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg at the heart of the European Quarter of Brussels, Belgium. It was inaugurated on 13 May 1951.[1]

The park is testimony to the local residents' struggle against the rapid urbanisation (also known as Brusselisation) in the quarter that lacked urban planning and new green spaces. The site was originally destined to be used for a new headquarters for the Council of the European Union (which eventually moved into the Justus Lipsius building across the road) but in the face of unanimous opposition the Belgian Government tried to sell, what was then a temporary car park, it to property developers before it was converted into a local park.[1]

A miniature river in the park reflects the Maelbeek stream, which once flowed through the area, but is now channelled through an underground collector.[1]

  • Looking towards the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, the Charlemagne (left) and Lex (right) buildings tower over the park
    Looking towards the Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, the Charlemagne (left) and Lex (right) buildings tower over the park

See also

  • flagBelgium portal

References

  1. ^ a b c Demey, Thierry (2007). Brussels, capital of Europe. S. Strange (trans.). Brussels: Badeaux. p. 291. ISBN 978-2-9600414-2-2.