JOSAPHAT PARK

One of the things I absolutely love about Brussels is its green spaces. The city is dotted with loads of beautiful parks, some well-known and others off the beaten path. But fear not, I’m here to discover and share the best ones, slowly but surely…

Josaphat park is one of the lesser known parks in Brussels, probably because it’s a bit off the tourist trail in Schaerbeek. Over the last few years, it has undergone a massive renovation and become a favourite hangout spot for locals. Away from the bustle of the city centre, it’s a calm and relaxing place to be with ample space to exercise, have a picnic, take a walk or engage in fun activities. During the summer, while the The Park to Be is on, Josaphat park hosts loads of events, including workshops, concerts and games. On my last visit I enjoyed an open-air screening of a documentary with a drink from the park’s guinguette (the Buvette Sint-Sebastiaan) and a live music performance of the most talented Brazilian quartet at La Laiterie (if you want to take a glimpse, check my Brussels stories on Instagram!).

The park’s name has an interesting story too. A pilgrim returning to Brussels from the Middle East in 1574 is said to have found the Roodebeek Valley resemblant to the Valley of Josaphat. What we see today is a remainder of the old Linthout forest that began at square Dailly. Designed by Belgian landscape architect Edmond Galoppin, the park was inaugurated in 1904 by King Leopold II. Nowadays Josaphat park is bigger and lovelier, featuring ponds which are the home of swans and ducks, sloping meadows, statues and sculptures, playgrounds, a small donkey farm and apparently, the largest number of faux landscape rocks in the Brussels region (!).

If you’re keen to explore somewhere new or live nearby Schaerbeek, give Josaphat park a go. And as always, do share your pictures with the #seemybrussels hashtag. I love seeing the city through your eyes too!

INFO

Address: Josaphat park,1030 Schaerbeek, Belgium