Here in front of us lies Duden Park. This urban public park in Forest is a green lung. It has many stories to tell.
Duden Park covers 24 hectares. It features a level difference of 45 meters. Its highest point reaches an elevation of 90 meters.
Once, this land was part of the “Bois de la Heegde”. This forest belonged to the Forest Benedictine Abbey in the Middle Ages. Today, the Royal Donation still owns it. Brussels Environment manages and restores the park.
The northern point of Duden Park is special. It highlights the panorama. You can see Square Lainé, Forest Park. The city and the Palace of Justice are also visible.
Duden Park has a rich history. It was once part of a vast forest stretching from Boitsfort to Forest. The Benedictine abbey of Forest owned this forest. It was founded in 1106. It became an autonomous abbey in 1238.
Over time, the forest was cleared. Grazing, military events, and economic needs led to deforestation. Only a few remnants of the original forest remained. It was called “Kruysbosch” or “Bois de la Croix”. This name came from a stone cross at the site. You can still see it today. It is at the corner of Rue du Mystère and Chaussée de Bruxelles.
After the French Revolution, the abbey’s domain was dismantled. A man named Mosselman bought the Kruysbosch. It became “le bois Mosselman”. He built a country house there.
In 1869, Guillaume Duden bought the land. He was a wealthy lace merchant of German origin. He made it his countryside retreat. Duden built a neoclassical mansion. He also added stables, a Protestant chapel, and a kiosk. Bridges and stairs created a picturesque forest park.
The Dudens admired King Leopold II. In 1895, Guillaume Duden bequeathed his property to the king. He provided capital for its maintenance. The condition was that it become a public park bearing his name. However, the park would only fully revert to the king after Mrs. Duden’s death.
Leopold II had already created a large public park nearby. It is now Forest Park. By connecting the two green spaces, the king and the generous merchant offered a green lung to a growing Brussels neighborhood. This connection was realized in 1949 with Square Lainé.
Leopold II included Duden Park in the Royal Donation. This left most of his private properties to the Belgian State. After Ottilie Duden’s death in 1912, the park became public. The Royal Donation has managed it ever since. It was classified as a site in 1973.
In 2004, the Brussels Region negotiated with the Royal Donation. The goal was to entrust the park’s management and restoration to Brussels Environment. This agreement took effect on September 1, 2006.
Duden Park has evolved significantly since the early 19th century. Each new development occurred in different areas. Successive owners left their mark without destroying previous creations. This makes Duden Park exceptional. It offers a juxtaposition of distinct garden styles on a small surface. These styles reflect garden art history. There are influences from Italian Renaissance gardens, English landscape style, picturesque gardens, and an Art Deco garden.
Each distinct zone forms a grand historical ensemble. Each ensemble contains a building around which the landscape and scenery were created. Although some elements have been transformed or disappeared, many traces remain. This gives distinct atmospheres to different parts of the park.
Duden Park today has four main areas. These are scattered amid a wooded framework. This framework is a remnant of the original forest. These areas include the historic Mosselman estate, the historic Duden estate, the Conciergerie, and the Art Deco garden and Square Lainé.
Duden Park’s history is visible everywhere. Take your time to discover its many layers. Enjoy the blend of nature and history in this unique Brussels park.