Jardin du Maelbeek
Encyclopedia
The Maalbeekdaltuin or Jardin de la vallée du Maelbeek (French
) is a small green space on the corner of the Rue de la Loi and Chaussé d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg at the heart of the European Quarter of
Brussels
(Belgium
). It was inaugurated on 17 October 2001.
The park is testimony to the local resident's struggle against the rapid urbanisation (see Brusselization
) in the quarter that lacked urban planning and new green spaces. The site was originally destined to be used for a new headquarters for the Council of the European Union
(which eventually moved into the Justus Lipsius building
across the road) but in the face of unanimous opposition the Belgian government tried to sell, what was then a temporary car park, it to property developers before it was converted into a local park.
As well as acting as a symbol of the quarter's urbanisation, a miniature river reflects the Maelbeek river which once flowed through the area, but is now channelled through an underground collector.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) is a small green space on the corner of the Rue de la Loi and Chaussé d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg at the heart of the European Quarter of
Brussels and the European Union
Brussels is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter...
Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). It was inaugurated on 17 October 2001.
The park is testimony to the local resident's struggle against the rapid urbanisation (see Brusselization
Brusselization
Brusselization is a term used by urban planners to describe anarchic commercial property development in a historic city. The term originated as the result of the uncontrolled development of Brussels in the 1960s and 1970s, where unscrupulous developers were given free rein to build a futuristic city...
) in the quarter that lacked urban planning and new green spaces. The site was originally destined to be used for a new headquarters for the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
(which eventually moved into the Justus Lipsius building
Justus Lipsius building
The Justus Lipsius building is a building in Brussels that has been the headquarters of the Council of the European Union since 1995. Unlike the European Parliament, visiting is restricted...
across the road) but in the face of unanimous opposition the Belgian government tried to sell, what was then a temporary car park, it to property developers before it was converted into a local park.
As well as acting as a symbol of the quarter's urbanisation, a miniature river reflects the Maelbeek river which once flowed through the area, but is now channelled through an underground collector.
See also
- Maalbeek
- Maelbeek/Maalbeek metro stationMaelbeek/Maalbeek metro stationMaalbeek/Maelbeek station is a Brussels metro station in the City of Brussels. The name of the station originates from a stream named Maelbeek.-History:...
- BrusselizationBrusselizationBrusselization is a term used by urban planners to describe anarchic commercial property development in a historic city. The term originated as the result of the uncontrolled development of Brussels in the 1960s and 1970s, where unscrupulous developers were given free rein to build a futuristic city...
- Brussels and the European UnionBrussels and the European UnionBrussels is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter...