Facing Sablon Church, Petit Sablon Square is one of the small architectural jewels in the centre of Brussels. A neo-Renaissance style garden, it is embellished with sculptures by the greatest Belgian artists of the 19th century.

In the 1880s, Charles Buls, Mayor of Brussels, proposed that the neighbourhood be beautified and the square transformed into an attractive garden. It was opened to the public in 1890.

Symmetric flowerbeds lead to a raised fountain, the circular basin of which is dominated by the sculptural group depicting the Counts of Egmont and Hornes. Behind it, two flights of stairs lead to Egmont Palace. The ornamental plantings have a symbolic significance: the nine beds of trimmed boxwood decorating the lawn represent the nine Belgian provinces of the era. Another bed in the shape of a crown symbolises Belgium. Petit Sablon is surrounded by a very beautiful wrought iron railing composed of panels with various motifs and colonnades.

Management by Brussels Environment strives to preserve the historic character of the site. If a tree must be replaced, a tree of the same species is replanted. On the other hand, the choice of bedding plants reflects trends in modern horticulture.