Park van Hoegaarden

Park van Hoegaarden is a public park in the Belgian municipality of Hoegaarden, stretching along Houtmarkt right behind the former Kapittelhuis. It's a place where roots reaching back to the Middle Ages meet a 19th-century gardening tradition, resulting in a green retreat popular with both locals and travellers passing through the region.

Where does the site's history begin?

The story of the grounds now occupied by the park goes back to the year 980, when Countess Alpaïdis founded the local chapter here. In 1634 the Kapittelhuis was built, a building that still stands right beside the park today and gives the whole site its historical backdrop. The park itself, however, has a much younger origin — its first layout only appeared in 1882–1883.

Who created the first park and what was it for?

The first park design is credited to Jacques Clement Dumont. Although the grounds were simply referred to as "hof" at the time, this wasn't a working garden or vegetable plot but rather a pleasure ground — a place for strolling and leisure. Planting was carried out gradually, and around the turn of the 20th century exotic tree species were added to enhance the estate's prestige.

How did ownership of the park change over time?

The park's fate is closely tied to a single family's history. Dymphna Dumont, Clement's daughter, married Albert Charles Bail in 1911, bringing the estate into the Bail family's hands. Their son, Paul Bail, became the last private owner of the park under dramatic circumstances — he was found murdered in 1980. As a result, ownership of the land passed to the state, and a few years later the municipality of Hoegaarden purchased the site and opened it to the public.

How did the park become a public space?

A turning point came in 1991 with the opening of the Vlaamse Toontuinen, the Flemish Demonstration Gardens (later known as Tuinen van Hoegaarden) — a showcase project highlighting Flemish garden design. This setup lasted for nearly three decades, until 2018, when the municipality took over management and gave the site its current form as an open public park, freely accessible to all visitors.

What can visitors see in the park today?

Today's Park van Hoegaarden combines recreational value with historical character. Its proximity to the Kapittelhuis means a walk through the park doubles as a short lesson in local history — from the medieval chapter, through the 19th-century estate, to the present-day municipal park. Mature trees, including remnants of the earlier exotic plantings, give the grounds a distinctive character and welcome shade, especially valuable in summer.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the park free? Yes, as a public park run by the municipality of Hoegaarden it is open to everyone at no cost.

Where exactly is the park located? Along Houtmarkt in Hoegaarden, directly behind the Kapittelhuis.

Are there historic buildings within the park? The park borders the Kapittelhuis, built in 1634, though the building itself technically sits outside the green area.

Since when has the park been open to the public? Since 1991, when the Vlaamse Toontuinen were established here, with the site gaining its fully municipal public-park character after the local government took over management in 2018.

Is it worth combining a visit with other attractions in Hoegaarden? Yes, the park lies in the town's central area, close to other sites tied to local history and the region's brewing tradition.