As the King of Belgium's residence, the castle became part of the vast royal domain of Laeken, which reached 186 hectares in its heyday! At the end of the 18th century, a few years before the French Revolution, the Austrian couple who were appointed governor general of the Netherlands decided to build a new summer residence: Schoonenberg Castle (literally, Beautiful Mount), the ancestor of Laeken Castle. The enormous park surrounding the castle was the result of the combination of various properties and acquisitions over the years. Having hosted some of the most influential people in the world - Napoleon, the Dutch king William I of Orange, etc. - the castle and its grounds were to be the subject of numerous alterations and modifications, such as the construction of the famous Laeken greenhouses.
The Royal Castle in Laeken
Location: Avenue du Parc Royal, 1020 Laeken
