Laeken/Laken 5.55

Laeken or Laken is a residential suburb in north-west Brussels in Belgium. It belongs to the municipality of the City of Brussels and is identified by the Belgian postal code : B-1020. Prior to 1921 it was a separate municipality.Buildings and key featuresRoyal CastleThe Royal Castle of Laeken, official home of the Belgian Royal Family, is situated here. The castle was built between 1782 - 1784 by Charles de Wailly. It was partly destroyed by fire in 1890 and rebuilt and extended by Alphonse Balat. The French architect Charles Girault gave it its present outline in 1902. It has been the royal residence since the accession to the throne of King Leopold I in 1831. The former King Albert II and Queen Paola live in the Belvedere in the grounds of this castle, while King Philippe and Queen Mathilde live in the main castle.Royal GreenhousesThe royal domain also contains the magnificent Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, a set of dome-shaped constructions, accessible to the public only a few days a year. They were designed by Alphonse Balat, with the cooperation of the young Victor Horta.