Near the church of Notre-Dame de Laeken, the Square du 21 Juillet houses the memorial to Queen Astrid, who died tragically in 1935. The classicism of the layout and the atmosphere of the premises promote calm and contemplation.

Initially developed by Leopold II, the square harbours the memorial that was inaugurated there on 21 July 1938, hence its name.

A long rectangular central lawn, the linearity of which is underlined by two rows of small yews trimmed into cones, draws one’s gaze toward the memorial, with its colonnade and central rotunda. An original beech tree, kept because of its majesty, softens this symmetry.

Nineteen trees in the square appear on the Brussels list of remarkable trees, including a paper tree, also known as Broussonetia, originally from China.

The planted beds are notably made up of camellias, Mexican orange trees, and hellebores. Magnificent daylilies cover the bank along the right side railing of the square. To break up the dominant green of the site, the two flowerbeds to the left and right of the memorial have been completely redeveloped. The numerous perennials that compose them stand out for their diversity of shapes and the colours of their blooms.