BRUSSELS - THE ROYAL PARK

Despite the unusual cold weather at the end of March, I went for a walk through the ROYAL PARK also called the "Parc de Bruxelles". It is the largest urban public park in the center of Brussels. The area of the rectangular park is 13.1 ha (32 acres). It is surrounded by the Royal Palace of Brussels, the Belgian parliament and the U.S.A. embassy. In the summer, free parties are organized every weekend in the heart of this park.

In September 1830 the royal park became the cradle of the Belgian independence. After an uproar had broken out in the Brussels Opera, the revolutionary army fought the Dutch army in the royal park in order to break away from the union with Holland and the Dutch king, William I. The Dutch army had to leave Brussels on September the 27th, which finally resulted in the creation of a new state, Belgium.



The Royal Palace



and its gates. You may notice that there are no guards anymore, the King found that it was not human to let soldiers in fancy uniforms standing there and being bothered by tourists. Before you could watch the change of the guards which was quiet spectacular.



Besides the palace are beautiful buildings, which once were the homes to the aristocracy



Just in front is the entrance of the park



Unfortunately I couldn't find out the meaning of the sculpture, representing an angel with a horse head



The entrance



As it was Easter Sunday, the city of Brussels had organized a big Easter egg hunting for the children.
Apparently 30 000 eggs were distributed. Despite the very cold weather the park was full



Spring still seems to be far away, because the park looked rather "naked"



But children had fun !





There are many beautiful sculptures in the park





and in summer you can listen to concerts given here



The park is also surrounded by governmental buildings and the American Embassy






and just opposite the Royal Palace separated by the park is the Belgian Federal Parliament





The first King of Belgium Leopold 1st overlooks the park where Belgium was born



From far away you can see the Palace of Justice



A statue in honor of Godfrey de Bouillon