The Laeken cemetery is the oldest of all the cemeteries in Brussels still in function. Very popular among tourists and residents alike it’s often dubbed as the little brother of the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris. The Cimetière de Laeken rose massively in popularity when the Royal family chose the adjacent Notre-Dame de Laeken Church as their burial grounds. Since then it became the final resting place of Belgian’s rich and famous Personalities bringing some outstanding examples of 19th century funerary art. By looking at the titles engraved in the stones one notices profusion of ministers, mayors, advisers, renowned artist or high ranking officers.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday: 8:30AM – 4:30PM
Location of the Laeken cemetery:
Photos Cimetière de Laeken:
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery/thumbs2/woman-tomb-grief.jpg)
World War I soldier fallen at the age of 24 while heroically covering a retreat.
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery/thumbs2/world-war-one-fallen-hero.jpg)
Mourning widow
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery-2/thumbs2/grieving-woman-sculpture.jpg)
Angel
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery-2/thumbs2/angel-scupture-tomb.jpg)
Imploring the heavens
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery-2/thumbs2/imploring-the-lord-funeral-art.jpg)
Endless rows of the many victims of the Great War that lay here
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/Cimetiere-Laeken/thumbs2/tombes-guerre-14-18 (2).jpg)
Grieving widows
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/Cimetiere-Laeken/thumbs2/tomb-robert-avaert.jpg)
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery-2/thumbs2/funeral-art-sculpture-woman.jpg)
Close up of a grieving woman
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/Cimetiere-Laeken/thumbs2/grief-woman-tombstone.jpg)
Looking at tower of Notre-Dame de Laeken Church located right at the back
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery-2/thumbs2/notre-dame-de-laeken.jpg)
Child with flowers
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery/thumbs2/young-girl-statue-flowers.jpg)
Young girl praying
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery/thumbs2/young-woman-statue-praying.jpg)
The Thinker by Auguste Rodin
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery/thumbs2/Le-Penseur-Auguste- Rodin.jpg)
Jesus and Mary
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery-2/thumbs2/funeral-scultpure-mary-holding-jesus.jpg)
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery/thumbs2/laeken-cemetery-funeral-art.jpg)
One of the many deserted paths across the cemetery
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery-2/thumbs2/laeken-cemetary.jpg)
Loss of a loved one
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery-2/thumbs2/funeral-art-grieving-widow.jpg)
Child resting his head
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery/thumbs2/child-on-tomb-statue.jpg)
Widow locked inside her sadness
More expressions of grief
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/laeken-cemetery/thumbs2/sorrow-tomb (1).jpg)
The imposing Notre-Dame de Laeken Church lays behind
![](https://www.brusselspictures.com/wp-content/photos/Cimetiere-Laeken-2/thumbs2/laeken-cemetery.jpg)
7 comments
Beautilful photographs. My beloved one is also buried in this cemetary, but his tomb is a modest one of course. He was buried there because he loved this place so very much.
he was a luky person to be buried there ! it is a lovely place
Definitely one of the nicest in Brussels to rest eternally..
i wish i could be buried there… looks very peaceful & nice
My comment is a question: is there a special natural event at mid-Summer when the sun shines through one of the structures in the cemetery and creates a heart shape? Many thanks for any "enlightenment".
Sorry Jojo but I am afraid I have never heard of this event.
the heart can be seen here but i don't know where it is in the cemetery (since i haven't visited yet). apparently it only occurs on the longest day (21 june)… http://www.panoramio.com/photo/18199564