From the four originals pounds of Les Étangs d’Ixelles (French for The Ixelles Ponds) only two have survived the 1860 campaign of drying the Maalbeek valley wetlands. The Ixelles Ponds are imposing in size at 700X50 metres and were originally an extension of the gardens of the Abbey de La Cambre. Making up a long strip of almost non-stop greenery that goes deep into the Forêt de Soignes this is a very popular recreation area for residents of Brussels.

Location of Etangs d’Ixelles:

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Photos of Etangs d’Ixelles (Ixelles Ponds):

Reaching the Ixelles Ponds arriving from the Abbaye de la Cambre

The Church Sainte-Croix in the back

Some ducks at the Étangs d’Ixelles

Man relaxing on the lawn alone by the water

Walk around the Ixelles Ponds

Urban scene on one side

Nature on the other

at the other end of the pond lies the Place Flagey

View backwards at the tip of the pond

Surrounding buildings

Impressive number of birds waiting to bed fed

Here comes the food

Man reading by the pond

Back on track

More wildlife

Nature in the city

Back where we started