Cinquantenaire Park, Protected urban park in European Quarter, Brussels
Cinquantenaire Park is a 30-hectare public park in Brussels. Its centrepiece is a triple arch of pale grey stone, completed in 1905, with a bronze quadriga titled Brabant Raising the National Flag. Four fluted columns divide the arches, and a long colonnaded wing extends to each side.
The site was founded in 1880 to celebrate fifty years of Belgian independence, with buildings constructed for a national exhibition. The triumphal arch and exhibition halls from this period remain defining structures in the landscape.
Local joggers and walkers pass through regularly, and school groups visit the museums throughout the year. Families gather on the lawns to eat and rest, showing how the space fits into the rhythm of Brussels daily life.
The park has numerous benches, open grassy areas for sitting and eating, and clear walking paths that are easy to navigate. Metro and bus stations are within easy reach, making it convenient to arrive and explore at your own pace.
The Temple of Human Passions, a pavilion by Victor Horta built in 1899, shelters Jef Lambeaux's 1886 marble relief Les Passions humaines, depicting the pleasures and misfortunes of humanity. The building's classical style contrasts with Horta's later Art Nouveau work. It stands in the park's north-western corner, near the Great Mosque.
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