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.

free

Hours: Open now · open 24 hours
Weekly hours
Sun Open 24 hours
Mon Open 24 hours
Tue Open 24 hours
Wed Open 24 hours
Thu Open 24 hours
Fri Open 24 hours
Sat Open 24 hours
Price: Free

Sun	Open 24 hours
Mon	Open 24 hours
Tue	Open 24 hours
Wed	Open 24 hours
Thu	Open 24 hours
Fri	Open 24 hours
Sat	Open 24 hours

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Kraainem, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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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 hoursFree
Buy
Crelan
Van Biesen
Bank office with ATM, helpful and friendly service.
Wed–Fri 09:00–12:30, Sat 09:00–12:00, Tue Fri 16:00–18:30
See
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 hoursFree
Eat
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