Forest Park

Forest Park (French: Parc de Forest, Dutch: Park van Vorst) is a public urban park located in and named after the municipality of Forest in Brussels, Belgium, covering an area of 13 hectares (32 acres). The park was created in 1882 on the initiative of King Leopold II and designed by architect and urbanist Victor Besme, whose name is also carried by the adjacent Avenue Besme. Interestingly, the park did not start out under its current name — it opened to the public as Parc de Saint-Gilles/Park van Sint-Gillis ("Saint-Gilles Park") or Parc du Midi/Zuidpark ("South Park"), before it came to be known by the name of the Forest municipality.

How did the park change over time?

In 1890, the king commissioned French landscape architect Elie Lainé to revise the original layout. The goal was to create a vantage point oriented toward the newly built Palace of Justice (Palais de Justice), one of Brussels' most recognizable landmarks. That redesign shaped the network of paths leading toward scenic viewpoints that still defines the park today.

What can you see and do in Forest Park?

The park sits on a small hill, close to the highest point in Brussels, which gives its paths pleasant views over the city. The grounds are crossed by 18,000 square metres of footpaths winding between the trees and alongside a wide, open lawn.

In summer, the park hosts a "Guingette" — a seasonal outdoor spot where visitors can get food and drinks and enjoy live concerts. There is also a sand-covered playground area suited to sports such as volleyball and football. A particular favourite with families is a roughly 1,500-metre ride on a miniature steam train that winds through the park's greenery.

What's nearby?

On its southern side, Forest Park directly borders Duden Park, another large green space in this part of Brussels. Duden Park is home to the stadium of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the historic football club from the neighbouring municipality of Saint-Gilles. Because the two parks sit side by side, visitors can walk from one straight into the other, extending a stroll across this green corner of southern Brussels.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Forest Park? The park covers 13 hectares (32 acres), with 18,000 square metres of paths running through it.

Who designed the park? It was originally designed by architect and urbanist Victor Besme, commissioned by King Leopold II. In 1890, French landscape architect Elie Lainé reworked the layout to create a viewpoint toward the Palace of Justice.

What can visitors do here in summer? A seasonal "Guingette" offers food, drinks and live concerts, and there's a miniature steam train ride popular with families.

Is there another park nearby? Yes — Forest Park directly borders Duden Park to the south, which contains the stadium of football club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.