Domein Drie Fonteinen

Domein Drie Fonteinen is a sprawling landscape park in the Belgian town of Vilvoorde, covering roughly 50 hectares and considered one of the oldest landscape parks in the country. The city of Vilvoorde has owned the domain since 1956, though the grounds themselves date back much further, to the 18th century.

Where does the name come from?

The domain takes its name from the former hamlet of Drie Fonteinen ("Three Fountains"). According to local tradition, the name goes back to a large fountain that once stood near the Sas van Ransbeek lock. The fountain had four spouts pointing in the four cardinal directions, but ship captains passing by on the water could only see three of them from the river — hence the name "three fountains," which was later carried over first to the surrounding area and eventually to the park itself.

How did the park come to be?

The story of the grounds goes back to 1778, when the Walckiers family had a ten-hectare English garden laid out here. It ranks among the very first landscape gardens of its kind on the European continent, following the English fashion for naturalistic, picturesque green compositions as a deliberate break from the rigid, geometric French garden style. Over the following decades the estate was expanded and changed hands several times — at one point it was also known as Park Orban — before eventually passing into the ownership of the city.

What can visitors see in the park today?

Most of the grounds are laid out in the English landscape style, with gently shaped terrain, clusters of trees, and water worked into the overall composition. The domain also preserves several historic structures, including an orangery accompanied by its own French garden, kept in a more formal, geometric style that offers a striking contrast to the rest of the park.

Alongside its historical features, the park also offers more everyday amenities: ponds, a small animal meadow, a children's playground, and sports facilities. As a result it draws both visitors interested in garden history and architecture, and local families simply looking for a place to walk or relax outdoors.

Who is this place for?

Domein Drie Fonteinen combines the role of a historic park estate with that of an everyday recreational space for the residents of Vilvoorde and the surrounding area. Visitors can explore the history of one of Belgium's oldest landscape gardens while also making use of typical modern park facilities — making it a good fit for anything from a short stroll to a longer outing with children.

Frequently asked questions

How large is Domein Drie Fonteinen? The domain covers approximately 50 hectares.

Where does the park's name come from? From a former fountain near the Sas van Ransbeek lock, which had four water spouts, though only three were visible from the river — giving rise to the name "three fountains."

Who owns the park? The city of Vilvoorde has owned it since 1956.

What can you find in the park? An orangery with a French garden, ponds, an animal meadow, a children's playground, and sports facilities.

How old is the park? The English garden on this site was first laid out in 1778, making it one of the oldest landscape parks in Belgium.