Cat Garden

Cat Garden (French: Jardin du Chat) is a small municipal park in the Uccle-Ukkel district in southern Brussels, near the corner of Rue de Boetendael and Rue Emile Lecomte. It's a quiet green pocket tucked into a densely built, low-key residential corner of the commune, designed as a place to unwind for children and adults alike.

Where does the name come from?

The park takes its name from the surrounding neighbourhood, known as Chat (or Katte in Dutch), which in turn was named after an old inn called "In de Catte" ("At the Cat's"). The whole area grew up around this inn and inherited its name over time — and so did the local square and the small park that now bears the same "cat" title. It's worth noting the name has nothing to do with actual cats; it's simply a historical echo of the old tavern that once stood there.

What was this area like in the past?

At the turn of the 20th century, the Chat neighbourhood and the adjacent Altitude 100 district were still modest, semi-rural hamlets on the edge of Brussels. A distinctive feature of this part of Uccle are its picturesque "squares" (carrés) — small clusters of workers' housing arranged around cul-de-sac lanes off Chaussée d'Alsemberg. These were built to rehouse humble families, including residents displaced from the Marolles district during the construction of the Palace of Justice. That working-class origin still gives the area a distinctly intimate, unpretentious character, quite different from the more affluent parts of Uccle.

What can you do at Cat Garden?

The park is small, but it packs in a few practical amenities. There are benches for resting in the shade of the trees, a table-tennis table (bring your own paddles and balls, as none are provided on site), and a children's playground. The paths are wide and well maintained, making the park easy to navigate for people with reduced mobility, including strollers and wheelchairs.

Functionally, the park works as a local neighbourhood meeting point for nearby residents — a typical example of the small, community-scale green spaces scattered throughout Uccle, a commune known for looking after green areas across its territory.

How do you get to Cat Garden?

The park sits in southern Brussels, within the Uccle-Ukkel commune, right next to Rue de Boetendael and Rue Emile Lecomte. The surrounding streets are quiet and residential, which makes for pleasant walking. Several other green spaces belonging to Uccle lie within a few hundred metres, including the larger Brugmann Park, so a visit to Cat Garden can easily be combined with a longer stroll through the surrounding greenery.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a playground for children at Cat Garden? Yes, the park has a playground area designed for young children.

Can you play table tennis there? Yes, there's a table-tennis table in the park, but you need to bring your own paddles and balls — none are provided on site.

Is the park accessible for wheelchairs or strollers? Yes, the paths are wide and well maintained, making it easy for people with reduced mobility to get around.

Where does the name Cat Garden come from? It comes from the surrounding Chat neighbourhood, itself named after an old inn called "In de Catte" that once stood in the area.

Are there other green spaces nearby? Yes, Brugmann Park is just a few hundred metres away, among other green spaces in the Uccle commune.