Jardin du Maelbeek

The Jardin de la vallée du Maelbeek or Maalbeekdaltuin is a small green space on the corner of Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat and Chaussé d'Etterbeek/Etterbeeksesteenweg at the heart of the European Quarter of Brussels. It was inaugurated on 13 May 1951.The park is testimony to the local residents' struggle against the rapid urbanisation in the quarter that lacked urban planning and new green spaces. The site was originally destined to be used for a new headquarters for the Council of the European Union but in the face of unanimous opposition the Belgian government tried to sell, what was then a temporary car park, it to property developers before it was converted into a local park.A miniature river in the park reflects the Maelbeek river which once flowed through the area, but is now channelled through an underground collector.