Heldenpark

Heldenpark is a municipal park in the Oostveld neighbourhood of Eeklo, a town in East Flanders, Belgium, built on the grounds of a former private estate from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today it combines a green recreational space with architectural heritage and modern water-management design.

How to get there?

Eeklo lies in the province of East Flanders, in the Meetjesland region, northwest of Ghent. Heldenpark is located in the Oostveld district, along Oostveldstraat, where the former mansion still stands at number 91. The park is easily reached on foot or by bike from the town centre, and Eeklo has bus connections to the surrounding towns of the Meetjesland region.

What will you see?

The park's history goes back to an estate with a mansion known as landhuis Oakland, built in eclectic style for the industrialist Hermann Enke-Pöting. In 1952 the domain was purchased by the city of Eeklo and given the name Heldenpark. Since 2013 the park has been gradually transformed from a more formal, castle-style layout into a space with a more natural character, also designed to contribute to local water management.

Today Heldenpark serves as a popular spot for family recreation. It features a playground with swings, a climbing structure, an axial see-saw, spinning equipment, a cable car, and a balance trail. An integral part of the grounds is a wadi — a shallow depression designed to naturally collect and infiltrate rainwater — showing how contemporary urban green-space planning combines leisure with ecological function.

Events in the park

In summer, Heldenpark comes alive with "Helden in het Park," a free music festival organised by the Eeklo music club N9. The event has a long-standing history: in 2026 it celebrates its 30th edition, running from Thursday, July 30 to Sunday, August 2. The festival draws residents and visitors from across the Meetjesland region, turning the park into the centre of the town's summer cultural life.

When to visit?

The park is pleasant to visit year-round for a quiet walk or for children to play on the playground, but the liveliest period is summer, especially during the music festival at the turn of July and August. Visitors looking for a calmer experience among greenery can head to Heldenpark outside the festival season, when it mainly functions as a local recreational space.

Frequently asked questions

What stood on the site of today's Heldenpark before 1952? It was a private estate with an eclectic mansion known as landhuis Oakland, built for the industrialist Hermann Enke-Pöting.

When and how did the park take its current form? The city of Eeklo purchased the land in 1952 and named it Heldenpark, and since 2013 the site has been redeveloped into a more naturalistic green space that also supports rainwater management.

What can children do in Heldenpark? The park offers a playground with swings, a climbing structure, an axial see-saw, spinning equipment, a cable car, and a balance trail.

What cultural event takes place in the park in summer? It's the "Helden in het Park" music festival, a free event organised by club N9, which celebrates its 30th edition in 2026.