Maximilian Park in Brussels

Maximilian Park is a green space in the northern part of Brussels, just a few hundred metres from Gare du Nord station, sitting between the historic city centre and the former Tour & Taxis freight site. The park is named after Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, and occupies a plot with a distinctly industrial and railway-shaped past.

How did this land become a park?

The area now covered by the park was once part of the former Allée Verte station, which opened in 1835 as one of the earliest passenger railway stations in Brussels and the first to connect the city to other European countries. Once passenger traffic shifted to the larger North Station nearby, Allée Verte was relegated to freight transport only. By the mid-20th century the site briefly served as a heliport before its eventual conversion to public green space.

When did the park open to the public?

After more than a century of use as a railway and freight site, the land was transformed into a public park, which opened in 1980. A few years later, in 1987, an urban educational farm was established on the grounds, run by a socio-cultural non-profit organisation in partnership with the City of Brussels — it is still active today.

What can visitors find in the park today?

Modern Maximilian Park offers tree-lined paths, seating areas and children's playgrounds. Its centrepiece, however, is the Ferme du Parc Maximilien, an urban farm home to goats, sheep, donkeys, chickens, rabbits and alpacas. The farm doubles as an educational centre with its own vegetable garden and functions as a community gathering point, set in the unusual urban stretch between the Grand-Place and the Tour & Taxis district.

What else does this place mean for Brussels?

Beyond its recreational and educational role, the park has also carried a symbolic weight for years: it became a site where migrants awaiting onward journeys set up encampments, turning it into one of the reference points in Brussels' public debate on migration. This mix of everyday family leisure and a mark left by recent social history makes Maximilian Park a far more layered place than its calm, green appearance suggests.

Frequently asked questions

Who is this place for? Mainly families with children — thanks to the animal farm and playgrounds it's one of the city's favourite spots for younger visitors, while also offering a pleasant walk for anyone looking for greenery close to the centre.

Is entry to the farm free? The farm is run as a non-profit urban educational space in partnership with the City of Brussels, operating as an open community facility rather than a paid attraction.

How do you get there? The park sits right next to Gare du Nord station, making it easy to reach on foot from central Brussels and the Tour & Taxis area.