Mellaerts Ponds

Mellaerts Ponds is a water park in the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, in the eastern part of Brussels, built around two large ponds in the Woluwe valley. Covering roughly 8 hectares, the park is part of a chain of green spaces running along the valley, next to the neighboring Woluwe Park, which partly inspired its layout.

Where does the name come from?

The name comes from François Mellaerts, who in 1883, together with his wife Antoinette Vandenmoortel, bought a set of plots located in the Woluwe valley. During the 1880s he had the ponds dug and a house with outbuildings built on the site. In 1898, the Mellaerts couple exchanged part of their land with Edmond Parmentier, the contractor responsible for building Avenue de Tervueren, giving up nearly 4 hectares of land comprising dikes, ponds, grounds and buildings. This is the piece of land that eventually became today's park.

What does the park look like today?

The park was created at the beginning of the 20th century, following the example of the neighboring Woluwe Park, and has served as a leisure spot for local residents ever since. Its centerpiece is the two ponds, where visitors can rent pedal boats — one of the more popular activities for families during the warmer months. Near the restaurant there is also a minigolf course, making the area around the ponds a place that combines water-based recreation with other forms of leisure.

Mellaerts Ponds has been officially protected as a heritage site since November 18, 1976, underlining its landscape and natural value within the Brussels region.

What wildlife can visitors spot?

The ponds attract a good number of waterbird and wetland species. Visitors can spot, among others, the Eurasian coot, the grey heron, and the Egyptian goose — a species that has firmly established itself in Brussels' parks and water bodies in recent decades. Even a short walk around the ponds gives birdwatchers a chance to encounter several different species in one place.

The park is also an important link in the ecological corridor of the Woluwe valley, connecting green spaces in this part of Brussels and allowing wildlife to move freely between the different parks.

Who is this park for?

Mellaerts Ponds is best suited for anyone looking for a quiet break in nature close to the center of the Brussels metropolitan area. Families with children can enjoy the pedal boats and minigolf, nature lovers can watch waterbirds, and casual walkers can simply stroll along the water, taking advantage of the park's proximity to other green spaces in the Woluwe valley, including Woluwe Park itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the name Mellaerts Ponds come from? From François Mellaerts, the owner of land in the Woluwe valley, who had the ponds dug in the 1880s.

How big is the park? It covers about 8 hectares, including the two ponds.

What can you do in the park? Rent a pedal boat, play minigolf near the restaurant, and watch waterbirds such as the Eurasian coot, grey heron, and Egyptian goose.

Since when have the ponds been protected? They have been a protected heritage site since November 18, 1976.