The Royal Crypt in Laeken had been on my list for quite some time now. Last weekend I had a family weekend in the south of the Netherlands and since Brussels was a lot closer by I hopped on a train!
The royal crypt is inside the Église Notre-Dame in Laeken, Brussels. It is a pretty church with very high ceilings. It was built in memory of Queen Louise-Marie of Belgium (Louise of Orléans), the wife of King Leopold I of Belgium.
Right before entering the crypt you walk across this gorgeous tiled floor.
The main tomb is that of Leopold I and Marie-Louise.
The tomb of Astrid of Sweden, Leopold III and Lilian, Princess of Réthy.
Albert I and Elisabeth of Bavaria
King Baudouin with the most recent addition, Queen Fabiola who died in 2014.
Leopold II and Marie-Henriette of Austria
The tomb Prince Charles, Count of Flanders
Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Countess of Flanders, her husband Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and their eldest son Prince Baudouin
Prince Alexander
Prince Louis Philippe, Empress Carlota of Mexico and Prince Leopold Emmanuel of Liechtenstein
Just outside the church is this garden dedicated to the memory of Queen Astrid. According to one man in the church, she is still Belgium’s most popular Queen.
How gorgeous!
The church and the crypt are absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit. It’s only open to the public on Sunday afternoons between 2 and 5 pm and on these dates:
- 17 February: death of King Albert I
- 31 July: death of King Baudouin
- 29 August : death of Queen Astrid
- 25 September : death of King Leopold III
- 1 November: All Saints Day
- 15 November: “Koningsfeest – Fête du Roi”
- 29 November : death of Prince Alexander
- 5 December : death of Queen Fabiola.
There is no entrance fee and there’s a very enthusiastic man working there who wants to tell you all about the church. (Though he didn’t really get my sarcasm!) There is a cemetery next to the church which looked like a mini Père Lachaise and has a statue of Le Penseur by Rodin.
You are doing a great job Monik dear.I am awed by the history. I love to read about the royals of Europe and I love Europe.Been there once but I am staying very very far frm there.keep it up.
I wonder what hours it’s opened?