Most people in Brussels have never set foot inside the secret urban park hidden behind a neo-classical mansion on Schaerbeek’s busy Chaussée de Haecht.
Built in 1826 by a wealthy cloth merchant, the park belongs to an ancient, dilapidated mansion that is now used for art exhibitions. Meanwhile, the garden is dotted with old trees, benches and romantic statues.
Look out for the nostalgic Brussels restaurant in the former saddler’s workshop. Known as L’Estaminet 1030, it has a beautiful wood-panelled interior rescued from a Brussels restaurant demolished in 1958.
Run by a friendly team, it offers soups, sandwiches, local beers and coffee (open Tuesday to Saturday).
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
