Royal Palace of Brussels

Although the Belgian royals have their residences to the north of the city centre, the Royal Palace is where the King and Queen carry out their official duties. The palace became of central significance during the 19th century when Belgian monarchs began to greet their people there. It is not normally possible to enter the building until the summer when the interior is opened up to visitors.

This magnificent ornate building really only acquired its grandeur under the orders of Leopold II, also known as “the Belgian Bull”. In the late 19th century he decided that the existing palace was not sufficient for someone of his standing and had it enlarged and embellished.

You’ll have to pick your way across Brussels Park to get to the palace, but you’ll be able to see it while you’re still a long way off. In fact, the most impressive photos of the palace tend to be taken from the park so keep an eye out for some good photo opportunities on the approach. As you get closer, you’ll begin to see the ornamentation of the impressive façade in more and more detail.

If you do happen to be in Brussels during the summer months, you might as well go and have a look inside. You certainly won’t regret it. The grand halls, function rooms, furniture and interior decoration are awash with the kind of opulence that really is a sight to behold. This is also a good place to come if you want to learn about the history of the Belgian monarchy, and see something of the daily lives of modern-day monarchs.

Another very good reason to go is to look at beautiful works of art by contemporary Belgian artists. These include Jan Fabre’s Heaven of Delight, a mosaic made from the wing cases of over a million jewel beetles, and Dirk Braeckman’s black and white portraits of King Albert II and Queen Paola.

The palace is located to the east of central Brussels and can be reached by metro and by car. There is plenty of street parking at a reasonable price nearby. You can visit any day, and you can access the interior of the palace during the summer on any day except Monday. There is no admission charge.