Bruparck, Entertainment complex in Heysel, Brussels, Belgium.
Bruparck is a leisure complex on the Heysel plateau in Laeken, next to the Atomium and Kinepolis. Its grounds hold Mini-Europe, a miniature park of European monuments laid out along winding paths, with a large silver aeroplane model, a white domed tent and blue waterslides visible from above. The former Océade water park and The Village restaurant area are closed.
Bruparck took shape on the Heysel plateau beside the Atomium, King Baudouin Stadium and the Royal Observatory's planetarium. It grew into a leisure cluster of Kinepolis cinemas, the Mini-Europe miniature park and the Océade water park, drawing about 3.5 million visitors a year. The Village restaurant complex closed on 8 January 2017, and Océade shut on 30 September 2018 after plans for the NEO shopping project were postponed; Mini-Europe was kept in the revised plans.
Mini-Europe, the park's miniature village, is built around the European Union as its guiding thread: the choice of monuments, the explanations and the interactive Spirit of Europe presentation all follow it. The site also holds Kinepolis, a large cinema complex, next to the Atomium. The former restaurant village closed on 8 January 2017 and Océade, the heated water park, closed on 30 September 2018.
Bruparck sits on the Heizel plateau beside the Atomium, King Baudouin Stadium and the Royal Observatory's planetarium, served by Heysel metro station. Mini-Europe and Kinepolis remain open; Océade closed on 30 September 2018 and The Village restaurant cluster shut on 8 January 2017. Allow several hours to cover the miniature park and cinema complex on foot.
Mini-Europe, one of Bruparck's components, displays models of famous European monuments; the European Union is its guiding thread, both in the choice of monuments and in the explanations and in Spirit of Europe, an interactive presentation. The site as a whole drew 3.5 million visitors a year. In the revised Heysel plans, Mini-Europe no longer has to close and may be integrated into the NEO project.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,853 contributors worldwide.