Cinquantenaire Park

Cinquantenaire (also known by its Dutch name, Jubelpark) is a large urban public park in Brussels, located in the easternmost part of the European Quarter. Covering roughly 30 hectares, it ranks among the more spacious green areas in the Belgian capital. The park is bordered by a set of grand avenues — Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée, Avenue de la Renaissance, Avenue de l'Yser, Avenue des Gaulois and Avenue des Nerviens — whose layout gives the surrounding district a distinctly symmetrical, planned urban structure.

Where exactly is Cinquantenaire located?

The park sits within the European Quarter, the part of Brussels most closely associated with European Union institutions. Its coordinates place it at approximately 50.84°N, 4.39°E, on the eastern edge of the city centre, not far from key EU administrative buildings. This position makes Cinquantenaire a natural place to pause for residents of the district as well as for people working in the nearby office buildings.

How large is the park and what defines its layout?

At around 30 hectares, the park has room for long walking paths, open lawns, and spaces that can serve as gathering points or venues for outdoor events. The layout itself — framed by the five avenues mentioned above — reflects a deliberate, geometric design typical of large, representative city parks created as part of 19th-century European urban planning.

Is there a part of the park only open by appointment?

Available records indicate that a facility (or a section of it) within the park's grounds can only be visited by prior appointment, and only at specific times: Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 16:00. On Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays, this facility remains closed to visitors. This is worth keeping in mind when planning a visit, especially if the goal is to see a specific attraction on the grounds rather than simply walking through the green spaces.

Why is Cinquantenaire worth visiting?

Cinquantenaire combines the role of a green enclave in a densely built part of the city with that of a representative space bordering the heart of the European institutions. For visitors to Brussels, the park offers a convenient stop on a tour of the eastern part of the city — a chance to rest among greenery before or after exploring the surrounding grand avenues and buildings.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Cinquantenaire park? The park covers approximately 30 hectares.

Which part of Brussels is Cinquantenaire in? It lies in the easternmost part of the European Quarter.

Which streets surround the park? Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée, Avenue de la Renaissance, Avenue de l'Yser, Avenue des Gaulois and Avenue des Nerviens.

Is everything in the park freely accessible? No — one facility on the grounds is only accessible by prior appointment, on Tuesdays and Fridays between 9:30–12:00 and 13:30–16:00; it is closed on all other days.