Why not escape the city’s frenzy? Here, at Parc d’Osseghem you find tranquility. It surprises visitors with its calm and quiet atmosphere. This green space sits at the foot of the Atomium on the Heysel plateau.
Parc d’Osseghem offers beautiful views. Its wide winding paths feature tall trees. These reflect the style of English gardens.
Once, this land belonged to Afflighem Abbey. They quarried stone here. After the quarry closed, they planted beeches.
King Leopold II bought the forest in 1909. He acquired it from the Rongé family. His vision was to develop a luxury residential area near Laeken Palace. He gathered almost 200 hectares. But, the project never materialized.
After the king’s death, the State owned the land. In 1927, it ceded the land to the City of Brussels. This was for the upcoming World’s Fair. The exposition was planned for 1930. Economic problems delayed it until 1935. Jules Buyssens became the head of the projects. He was in charge of the gardens for the World’s Fair. In this context he created Parc d’Osseghem with its open-air theater.
The 1935 World’s Fair drew nearly 20 million visitors. It took place from May to November. The Centenary Palace, the stadium and Parc d’Osseghem marked the start of urbanizing the Heysel plateau. The area was intended for exhibitions, sports and leisure. World War II interrupted its progress. Development gained momentum with the 1958 World’s Fair.
The open-air theater is a highlight here in Parc d’Osseghem. Jules Buyssens designed it as a semicircle. It features terraced seating. Stone walls support the terraces. Privet hedges are planted in these walls. The theater accommodates around 3,000 people. It has excellent acoustics. During the 1935 and 1958 World’s Fairs, many shows took place here. These included orchestras and theater. Today, it still hosts the Brossella folk and jazz festival each summer.
The Atomium stands nearby. Engineer André Waterkeyn designed it. Architects André and Jean Polack built it. It became the symbol of the 1958 World’s Fair. It then became a symbol of Brussels. The Atomium is 102 meters tall. It represents the nine atoms of an iron crystal. They are magnified 165 billion times. It symbolizes confidence in progress. It highlights the peaceful use of atomic energy for science. Since its restoration, it houses a permanent Expo 58 exhibit. It also has temporary exhibitions, a bar and a restaurant. A children’s urban education project is also in the Atomium. Its high location offers 360-degree views of Brussels.
The former pavilion of Comptoir Tuilier de Courtrai is also near Parc d’Osseghem. It was built for the 1958 expo. Architect M.G. Bontinck designed it. It is one of the few pavilions that was not torn down. The building is now protected. Today, it houses a restaurant-bar.
You will also find a memorial to Adolphe Max. He was a former mayor of Brussels. A sculpture stands on Place Louis Steens.
Near the pond, there is a commemorative plaque. It honors Jules Buyssens. He directed the park’s design. It reads that the City of Brussels dedicated the tree to him. He was the landscape architect.
The park is open to the public. Access is permanent except during high winds. You can reach Parc d’Osseghem by tram. The Centenaire stop is nearby. You can enter the park from several avenues. These include Avenue de l’Atomium and Avenue de Madrid.
Take a moment to appreciate the calm of Parc d’Osseghem. It is a testament to landscape design. It links history and nature.