Kraainem

't Kapelleke

The chapel referred to as 't kapelleke by local residents (literally, the chapel) is located at the intersection point of the Jozef van Hovestraat, the Lijsterbessenbomenlaan, the Bossstraat and the Kapellelaan. At the time of its construction in 1932, there were no buildings around its current site, and with the exception of the Jozef van Hovestraat, all streets were unpaved roads. By 1932 however, the crossing became increasingly important because of the expansion of the Laag Kraainem residential area, and the construction of the Salesian Monastery along the Kapellelaan 1 km further between 1928 and 1930. As more streets were added in later years, a roundabout was constructed to divert traffic away from the immediate surroundings of the chapel and preserve the original roads. The chapel is one of the most iconic landmarks of Kraainem, and known by local children because of the adjacent kindergarten and primary school. The chapel is completely surrounded by buildings, and therefor lost most of its authentic outlook. Can be easily reached from Low Kraainem by following the Jozef van Hovestraat up the hill, around a 5-min walk.

Free

Aircraft spotting

Watching landing aircraft is a popular hobby in Kraainem due to its location in the vicinity of the Brussels Airport. Areas east of Kraainem are under a runway flight route, enabling viewers to spot landing aircraft if wind direction and weather permits it.

Open now · open 24 hours·Free

BNP Paribas Fortis

Office of a large French bank, more likely to accept and exchange foreign currencies.

Mon–Fri 09:00–12:30

Bio World

Since 2011 the largest store for organic food in Kraainem, with a selection of daily fresh bread, vegetables, and groceries. A wide range of drinks, milk (almond milk, rice, coconut,...), fruit and vegetable juices. They also have a selection of organic wines, as well as gluten free products such as bread, baguettes and cake. Strong emphasis on locally produced goods.

Mon–Thu 09:00–19:00, Fri 09:00–20:00

Bouvier-Washer Cité

Bouvier-Washerwijk

The Cité, built between 1920 and 1923, was envisioned as a social residential complex for veterans from the First World War who returned from the front line with disabilities. The chlorine gas used as chemical weapon in the early stages of the war in particular turned out to be rarely deadly because it was dispersed in the air, but caused irreversible damage to the lungs of many unprepared soldiers. For the first time in history, large numbers of veterans thus returned home with permanent breathing problems, a disability preventing reintegration in the labour market. At the end of the First World War in 1918, Belgian social security was unprepared to cope with this new phenomenon, and the Association sans but lucratif au profit des mutiléls de guerre (Association for the benevolence of war mutilated individuals) was founded to construct cheap social housing for the victims. Many such social cités were constructed in Kraainem, the Bouvier-Washer Cité was among the first. The architecture is typically regional: red brick facades alternating with brightly painted surfaces, abutments to the corners of walls, anchors and plaits, etc. The neighbouring Korenbloemstraat served the same purpose but was added 10 years later between 1930 and 1932. Many buildings have been modified, but the authentic looks were preserved in Korenbloemstraat no. 28. The Cité is still used as a residential area, as houses were sold or passed on to heirs after the original veteran inhabitants died. A 20- to 25-min walk from High Kraainem, follow Koningin Astridlaan direction Stokkel until the crossing with the Wezembeeklaan, then take left. Alternatively, take bus 352 direction Kraainem Metro and get off at stop Koningin Astrid.

Open now · open 24 hours·Free

Carrefour

French hypermarkt chain, and largest store in Kraainem with a variety of food and drinks, including prepared meals to go. They also carry other items that may come in handy: prepaid SIM cards, post cards and stamps, and in the summer season a range of camping items such as tents and backpacks.

Mon–Thu, Sat 09:00–20:00; Fri 09:00–21:00

Carrefour Express

Small supermarket in High Kraainem, more expensive than Carrefour or Colruyt, but one of the few that are open on Sundays.

Tue–Sun 07:30–20:00

Central Park

A small park near the geographic centre of Kraainem, hence its name. Adjacent to the famous Bouvier-Washer Cité, it offers visitors benches to rest and a calm environment to enjoy the surroundings. The park is maintained as a natural habitat for local fauna, by keeping grass mowing to a strict minimum. In the early morning or late evening, encounters with wildlife are likely, and visitors can enjoy observing rabbits, weasels and even foxes in the wild. It is formally prohibited to feed wildlife, and visitors should refrain from taking out food around animals, foxes in particular.

Open now · open 24 hours·Free

Chez Marius 1er

A bar in the Carrefour Planet shopping centre, near the western exit. A convenient place to enjoy Belgian beer and rest after an exhausting shopping experience. Small cuisine (soup and snacks) also available on request.

Colruyt

Belgian discount supermarket based in Halle, offering the lowest prices on branded foods. Smaller selection than Carrefour, but a bit cheaper. A great place to shop for snacks!

Mon–Thu, Sat 08:30–20:00, Fri 08:30–21:00

Cultural Center De Lijsterbes

Cultureel Centrum

A modern theater hall, grown into the cultural centre of Kraainem. New shows on a weekly basis. An opportunity for tourists to get a taste of Flemish culture and lifestyle. Don't forget to have a drink at the bar afterwards, where local residents hang out for smalltalk.

Mon 17.30–20.00, Tue–Fri 09.00–17.00

De Lijsterbes

Small restaurant in the Cultural Centre in the Kraainem town center. It specializes in traditional Flemish dishes (paling in 't groen, stoofvlees, tomate crevette, and many others). Ask for the dish of the day (dagschotel) for €12. Mostly visited by locals, and a great opportunity to get to know local residents and initiate smalltalk with them. Very kids friendly. Reservations are mandatory in the weekend.

€12–20

De Lijsterbes

Trendy bar associated with the community centre with the same name, located in a modern glass building on a 5-min walk from the High Kraainem historic center. Large selection of soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, coffee and tea. Also serves a warm lunch, see "Eat". Small snacks are available throughout the day. Very popular with locals, government officials working at the nearby town hall, and retired elderly. The best place in Kraainem to meet locals and have a chat about nearly any topic, if you're not under time pressure at least.

De Ronne Hoeck

A traditional Flemish bar (café or kroeg), one of the last remaining in Kraainem. Bars like De Ronne Hoeck (Flemish dialect for the round corner, referring to its location) used to play an important role in Flemish social life until the early 2000s, because they served as meeting points for locals of all social classes and ranks. For many commoners it used to be a daily routine to pass through the local bar on their way home from work, to discuss politics, sports and assorted topics while beers helped to forget the burdens of work. Traditional bars like De Ronne Hoeck are characterised by the lack of proper illumination and dark coloured wooden furniture, leading to the name bruine kroeg (literally brown bar). From the 21st century the popularity of traditional bars declined sharply under pressure of the expensive euro, the ban on indoor smoking, and competition with more trendy lounge bars. Not the most inviting to tourists, but an interesting place for those looking to experience Flemish social history.

Delhaize

Supermarket specialised in fine foods and luxury products. Too expensive for general grocery shopping, but a great place to search for Belgian specialties (chocolate, Speculoos spread, beers), souvenirs, and presents for family when you return home.

Mon–Thu 08:00–20:00, Fri 08:00–21:00

Deli

Prepared sandwiches and salads, energy and candy bars, and assorted foods. Expensive, but open until 22:00. Most food items are available at Carrefour 300 m further for a lower price.

07:30–22:00

Eclair Park

Eclairpark

A small park in Low Kraainem, the counterpart of the Jourdain park in High Kraainem. Willow trees are the symbol of Kraainem, and the willow tree of the Eclair park is one of the last remaining, after the iconic willow tree in front of the Saint Pancras Church was chopped during the renovation of the church in 2011. The pond is fed by a small spring, which used to be a source of fresh water for the inhabitants of Low Kraainem, but due to ground water contamination, the spring water is no longer suitable for human consumption. The pond drains into the Kleine Maalbeek, which in turns merges into the Woluwe 200 m further. The pond is a rich biome, as evidenced by the countless water plants in and around it. The pond also functions as flood water storage. A small recreation area makes the park a popular destination for families with young kids in Low Kraainem.

Open now · open 24 hours·Free

F.C. Kraainem

Kraainem Football

The football club of Kraainem is known for its multiculturalism, uniting over 300 players from 40 countries in sports. Aside from 2 senior teams, the club is carried by youngsters between 6 and 21 years old. Football courses are available to children in that age range in Dutch, English and French. Matches are played in the stadium at the Bosstraat, which has a rich history on its own. Entering the stadium is free, even during matches, only seats must be paid for. The cantina serves drinks and snacks, and hosts occasional cultural events.

Free

Frituur

A traditional Flemish fritkot serving fries, among many other types of fast food. Ask for home made fries, or you may be adversely served the industrial, frozen variant, with less flavor.

Fu-Lai

Asian cuisine in a relaxing setting. Fairly priced. The large aquariums with countless exotic fish next to the tables are a popular attraction for kids.

€77–20

High Kraainem

Hoog-Kraainem

Well preserved remains of the first residential activities in High Kraainem, dating from a Frankish settlement in the 9th century. The complex of interlocked houses and farmsteads, erected in the local sandstone but painted with white walls, is situated between the Saint Pancras Church and Jourdain castle. There is evidence of a stronghold historically situated west of the current location of the church, but it was demolished by the end of the 14th century because it lost its strategic importance. A map of 1397 only reports the location of the moats (fossa castri), which were eventually backfilled and repurposed. No visible evidence remains of the stronghold's existence. From the 14th century to the 19th century, High Kraainem remained a small settlement: at the time of the Belgian independence in 1830, only 15 houses were counted in High Kraainem.

Free

Historic shopping district

Numerous shops spread along the streets of the historic centre of Kraainem. Large variety of premises, but does not offer the best opportunities to fashionistas.

I Gusto

Take-away Italian food on a walking distance from Central Park and the historic Bouvier-Washer Cité.

Tue–Sat 09:00–20:00, Sun 09:00–13:00

Industrial Heritage Monument

Evenwicht

The monument consists of three giant splinters, one wooden and two aluminum, commemorating the rich industrial legacy of Kraainem in the 19th and 20th century. Paper mills in particular have been historically important for employment in Low Kraainem, which was ideally located because of the water supply from the Woluwe and Kleine Maalbeek, and the supply of wood from the nearby Sonian Forest. From the extensive industrial complexes with paper mills, grain mills and brewery, nothing remains. The monument was designed by Rainer Gross and inaugurated in 2000. Easily reachable from either High and Low Kraainem with a 15- to 20-min walk up the hill towards Stokkel. Alternatively, take bus 352 and get off at Koningin Astrid.

Open now · open 24 hours·Free

Jewish cemetery

Joods kerkhof

Before 1930, the area of the current cemetery existed as garden for the castle park of Edward De Burbure of Wezembeek. With the rapid expansion of Kraainem in the first half of the 20th century, the cemetery around the Saint Pancras Church lacked the necessary capacity, and the need for a larger cemetery became evident. The area was purchased by the Kraainem municipality in 1933, and it was turned into a cemetery the next year with the construction of 2 service buildings. At the southern entrance of the cemetery, a small area is dedicated to war casualties and veterans. The larger section is reserved for the Jewish community, with was constructed in 1946 and later expanded in 1959. Many graves are victims from the Breendonk concentration camp. A memorial monument for unidentified Nazi victims is overlooking the area. The cemetery is a 15-min walk away from High Kraainem.

Free

Jourdain Castle

Jourdainkasteel

The castle was built as a farmstead with a U-shape surrounded by multiple vegetable gardens, as documented in 1771. In 1846, the farmstead was expanded, surrounded by a brick wall, and transformed into a closed farmstead (vierkantshoeve). A barn was also added, but demolished in the late 20th century. It was purchased by doctor Delphin Gaillard in 1883 together with the surrounding park. He gave the 18th century farmstead its current castle appearance, with emphasis on traditional style elements: brick masonry, corners of white sandstone, stepped gables, small towers and a roof resembling a Chinese pagoda. The castle and park were then sold to Victor Jourdain who gave his name to the castle, and in 1980 the property was transferred to the Kraainem municipality which restored the building and used it as community center. The last restoration dates from 2003, when a lift was added. The castle is occasionally opened to the public for cultural events, and is classified as Flemish Architectural Heritage. It hosted a florist until late 1990s, which occupied the large veranda. Recreation grounds with a children's farm make the castle a popular attraction for local families with kids.

Jourdain Park

Jourdainpark

The area east of the High Kraainem residential complex, at the time along the curvy road that connected Kraainem with Wezembeek, was purchased in 1883 by doctor Delphin Gaillard. The park only came to existence in 1899 when successive owner Victor Jourdain, who gave his name to the park, added 8.5 ha of marsh and woodland to the area before the start of the First World War in 1914. After his death in 1918, his heirs added the large ponds along the Kleine Maalbeek to the park, an addition of 4 ha. This included a watermill, which used the largest of the two ponds as a reservoir. The park consisted of the current ponds, but also a vegetable garden and orchard. A large portion of the park was sacrificed for the construction of highway R0 in 1973. From then on, the park was governed by the Kraainem municipality. The park hosts a large variety of rare and exotic plants and trees, including Platanus x hispanica, Tilia platyphyllos, T. tomentosa, Aesculus hippocastanum, and Sequoiadendron giganteum.

Open now · open 24 hours·Free

Kraainem Shopping

Largest shopping centre in Kraainem, with nearly all commodities available. Notable shops include a Leonidas (Belgian chocolates), Carrefour Planet (hypermarket), Delhaize (groceries) and Brico (leisure and construction related items). Too far out of the town centre to walk, but easily reachable with bus 316 or 352 (get off at Konigin Astrid).

Mon–Sat 09:00–20:00

Library

Openbare bibliotheek

Public library, offering a collection of novels, comic books, CDs and DVDs, primarily in Dutch and English.

Wed 14:00–17:00, Sun 10:00–13:00

Lotus

Chinese restaurant right across Eclair park, a few minutes walking from Low Kraainem. Mid-range, good value. Accommodation for larger groups, for example family celebration events. Kids friendly. Reservations are recommended.

Tue–Sun 12:00–14:45, 18:00–22:00