Royal Castle of Laeken

The Royal Castle of Laeken is the Belgian royal family's private residence, located in the northern part of Brussels, surrounded by a large park. This is where King Philippe and Queen Mathilde live with their children.

The castle was originally built in 1782-1784 for the Austrian Governor Albert of Saxe-Teschen, who was married to Archduchess Marie Christine. Architects Charles de Wailly and Louis Montoyer designed the building in neoclassical style. Napoleon Bonaparte lived in the castle between 1804 and 1812, and it was here that his son Napoleon II was born.

After Belgium's independence in 1830, the castle became the royal residence. King Leopold II significantly expanded the castle and laid out the famous glass and metal greenhouses spanning 2.5 hectares. These greenhouses contain an exotic collection of plants from around the world and are opened to the public for a few weeks each year in spring.

The castle and the surrounding 186-hectare park make up the Royal Domain of Laeken. Here you will also find the Japanese Tower and the Chinese Pavilion, both commissioned by Leopold II.