Parc Forestier

Parc Forestier is a landscaped park of nearly five hectares in Anderlecht, one of the municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region. It sits between Place du Repos, Rue du Souvenir, Rue des Parfums and Rue Démosthène, and its defining feature is a strongly marked, undulating terrain that is unusual for an urban park of this size.

Where does the name come from and what is the park's history?

The name refers to the roughly 300 trees growing throughout the grounds, including ash, maple, linden, black locust, pine and holly. The land the park now occupies was not always green recreational space — it was originally the municipal cemetery, opened in 1854. The cemetery received its last burial in 1953, as it could no longer keep up with the growth of the district's population. A year later, in 1954, the new Vogelenzang municipal cemetery opened, leaving the old grounds in search of a new purpose. In 1967 the former cemetery was converted into a public park, which was formally inaugurated in 1968. Since then Parc Forestier has been maintained by the Brussels environmental authority, Bruxelles Environnement, which has formally managed it since 2018.

What remains from the old cemetery?

Despite the change of use, the park still carries traces of its earlier history. The layout of some of the old cemetery paths remains partly visible today, and the original cemetery entrance gate, designed by architect Louis Ernest S'Jongers, has survived as part of the site. Because of its landscape and historical value, the park was listed as a protected heritage site in July 1997.

What does the park look like and what can visitors do there?

Parc Forestier is noted for its landscape value: the undulating terrain alternates between open lawns and wooded areas, and the relief creates notable perspective effects as visitors move through it. At the heart of the park is a small playground for children aged 3 to 12. A petanque court is located in the northern part of the park and can be used without a reservation. Visitors walking with dogs will also find two enclosed, fenced areas where dogs are allowed to roam off-leash.

How can you get to the park?

The park has four entrances: one from Place du Repos, one from Rue du Souvenir, and two from Rue Démosthène, at numbers 40 and 119. This spread of entry points makes the park easy to reach from several surrounding streets, whichever direction visitors are coming from.

Frequently asked questions

Was Parc Forestier once a cemetery? Yes. The park occupies the site of a former municipal cemetery, opened in 1854 and closed to new burials in 1953 when the new Vogelenzang cemetery opened. The park itself was created here between 1967 and 1968.

How large is the park? It covers just under 5 hectares.

Can dogs be off-leash in the park? Yes, within two dedicated, fenced-off areas set aside for that purpose.

Is the park a protected heritage site? Yes, Parc Forestier has been listed as a protected heritage site since July 1997.

What historical features can still be seen besides the greenery? The surviving entrance gate of the former cemetery, designed by architect Louis Ernest S'Jongers, along with traces of the old path layout in parts of the park.