Laeken and Heysel, Brussels
Photo: Zairon / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Neighbourhood guide

Laeken and Heysel

The Atomium, the Royal Greenhouses and Mini-Europe

Laeken is the northern part of the City of Brussels, with the Royal Palace estate and the Heysel Plateau. The Atomium and Mini-Europe stand on the plateau.

Design Museum Brussels is a design museum on Place de Belgique at the foot of the Atomium, in the Heysel Plateau. Atomium is the steel structure of nine spheres built for the 1958 World's Fair on the Heysel Plateau. Mini-Europe is a miniature park at Bruparck, below the Atomium, with scale models of European monuments. Royal Palace of Laeken is the residence of the Belgian royal family in Laeken, closed to visitors apart from the greenhouses.

Also on the map in this area: Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, Notre-Dame de Laeken, Laeken Park, Parc Sobieski, Palais 12.

9 places
See Laeken and Heysel on the interactive map

Nearby neighbourhoods

Koekelberg and Jette, Brussels Koekelberg and Jette The basilica and Magritte's house 7 places · 2.6 km away Tour & Taxis and Molenbeek, Brussels Tour & Taxis and Molenbeek Canal-side warehouses and a former foundry 7 places · 3.0 km away Schaerbeek and Saint-Josse, Brussels Schaerbeek and Saint-Josse Art Nouveau streets, Train World and the Botanique 13 places · 3.8 km away Sainte-Catherine and De Brouckère, Brussels Sainte-Catherine and De Brouckère The old fish quays, the opera and the central boulevards 14 places · 4.5 km away

The best of Laeken and Heysel

Design Museum Brussels
Best museum Design Museum Brussels A design museum on Place de Belgique at the foot of the Atomium, in the Heysel Plateau.
Best landmark Royal Palace of Laeken The residence of the Belgian royal family in Laeken, closed to visitors apart from the greenhouses.
Notre-Dame de Laeken
Best church Notre-Dame de Laeken The neo-Gothic church of Laeken, with the royal crypt behind it.

Things to do in Laeken and Heysel

Red and yellow scaffold-like staircase at the front of the Design Museum Brussels beside the Atomium
Museum Design Museum Brussels A design museum on Place de Belgique at the foot of the Atomium, in the Heysel Plateau.
Atomium at dusk with lit path leading to it in Laeken, Brussels
Museum Atomium The steel structure of nine spheres built for the 1958 World's Fair on the Heysel Plateau. Visitors can enter the spheres, which hold exhibitions and a view over the city.
Entrance flags and a miniature spire at Mini-Europe park in Laeken, Brussels
Museum · €€ Mini-Europe A miniature park at Bruparck, below the Atomium, with scale models of European monuments.
Glass dome of the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken above clipped hedges, Brussels
Landmark Royal Greenhouses of Laeken The glass and iron greenhouses of the Royal Palace of Laeken. They open to the public for a few weeks each spring.
Landmark Royal Palace of Laeken The residence of the Belgian royal family in Laeken, closed to visitors apart from the greenhouses.
Notre-Dame de Laeken neo-Gothic spire against a blue sky in Brussels
Church · Free Notre-Dame de Laeken The neo-Gothic church of Laeken, with the royal crypt behind it.
Lake with the Japanese Tower seen across the grass in Laeken Park, Brussels
Park · Free Laeken Park A public park in Laeken beside the Royal Palace estate.
Nightlife Palais 12 A concert hall on the Heysel Plateau.
Park · Free Parc Sobieski A public park in Laeken, north of the centre.

What's on in Laeken and Heysel

Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.

  • Le Music-Hall Theatre and shows

    5 dates from 14 Nov to 22 Nov · Théâtre Royal des Coeurs de Bois

    A music-hall show of pianist, balancer, dancers, acrobats and musicians on stage at the Théâtre Royal des Coeurs de Bois.

    15:00 · Map · Source: Théâtre Royal les Coeurs de Bois · Le music-hall

  • B.MOON Residency Showing Dance

    Fri 11 Dec · Maison des Cultures de Saint-Gilles

    A dance work shown at the end of a residency at Maison de la Création.

    18:00 to 21:00 · Map · Source: Maison des Cultures de Saint-Gilles · B.MOON : sortie de résidence

More local events around Brussels

From the blog

The Atomium lit up at night with its steel spheres and the glass pavilion at its base in Brussels Things to Do in Brussels: Grand-Place, the Atomium, Museums and Comics Read

Stay in Laeken and Heysel

Browse live availability and compare prices around the neighbourhood.

See hotels near Laeken and Heysel on Booking.comPrices are for the night of Saturday 14 November. You can change the dates on Booking.com. If you book, Roam Brussels earns a small commission from Stay22 at no extra cost to you.