In the Laeken district of Brussels, there is a row of important city attractions that definitely should be visited during a trip to the capital. These are the park of Laeken with a royal residence and a great greenhouse, the nearby modern Atomium, and the Mini-Europe miniature park.

In the southern direction from the Laeken Palace, there is the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Laeken, the family tomb of the Belgian kings. The church is surrounded by a majestic cemetery with lots of splendid monuments and tombs of noble and rich city residents.

The person who came up with the idea of creating a big church-tomb was the wife of King Leopold I, Marie Louise d'Orleans. However, construction works lasted 54 years and were finished after the death of the royal couple. In 1909, the building was consecrated. The ashes of the first Belgian King and his wife were transferred there. Later, all the royal dynasty representatives started to be buried there. Today, around two dozen crowned heads are buried in this place.

The majestic airy church was created in the Gothic style. A young and little-known architect, whose name was Joseph Poelaert, was invited for construction works. Later, he became a great Belgian architect. Numerous carved turrets pointing to the sky, a stunning entrance-portal, high pointed windows, sculptures, and bas-reliefs – all this adorns the building.

The interior of the church-mausoleum is equally beautiful: high blue vaults, impressive ribbed columns, amazing frescoes, colored stained-glass windows, icons, and an ancient wooden altar. It is not easy to get into the royal tomb as it is opened only several times a year: during great church celebrations and on the anniversary of one of the kings’ death.

The main treasury of the temple is, of course, the statue of Our Lady which is attributed to the 13th century. It is around 800 years old. The statue was transferred there after the destruction of the old church, which occupied the territory of the modern temple.

To see the Church of Our Lady of Laeken you need to go to the Bockstael metro station and then go on foot for around 10 minutes. You can enter the building during the Sunday service once a week.