There’s an actual farm in the heart of Brussels! Bring your little ones along and play among chickens, donkeys and alpacas - and learn a little bit about nature.
In the hustle and bustle of Belgium’s most chaotic city lies a farm with goats, sheep, donkeys, chickens, rabbits and even alpacas. This educational farm is run by a non-profit sociocultural organisation in collaboration with the city of Brussels. They’re open to everyone and have one goal: introduce adults and children to “farm life” and teach ways to live a more sustainable life.
They’ve been going since 1989. If you’re an eco-warrior, this is one activity you shouldn’t miss. There are a lot of different cultural and educational activities with schools and youth organizations, where kids and teens can feed the animals and visitors get educated about the “green life”: recycling, composting and solar energy, too.
- A lot of activities: whatever you want to do at the farm and whoever you are with, there’s something for you. For example, every Wednesday is “Awakenings Wednesdays”, which aims at building awareness about what you can do to take care of nature. Curious to learn more about the different activities offered? Check out the website for more info (only in French).
- Everyone’s garden: the farm is also home to a “shared garden”. Everyone can come, plant their own vegetables and watch them grow -- or even just remove the weeds. Meet fellow nature lovers! After all, friends who take care of the same vegetables are friends for life, right?
- A paradise of biodiversity: for the last few years, the team at the Maximilian has been trying to develop biodiversity not only within the farm, but also in the city of Brussels. Many insect hotels have been installed, housing insects used for pollination. Moreover, the team also planted a lot of different trees: chestnut trees, willows, brambles and many more. Thanks to this farm, Brussels is now greener than it’s ever been.
Tips and Tricks
- Are you into worm composting? Ask the team at the farm, bring a small container and they’ll fill it up with worms for you at no charge.
- When you visit the farm, remember to follow a few important rules: don’t feed the animals, don’t smoke on the premises and keep your dog on a leash if you bring your four-legged friend with you.
- If you really want to feel connected with the nature around you, head to the “spiral of the time”, a spot within the farm which, thanks to its special geographical features, is conducive to meditation and will allow you to “perceive the unusual” -- whatever this might mean for you!
- Of course, remember this is a farm, so dress accordingly and wear comfy shoes.
Getting There
- By Train: get to Gare du Nord - from there it’s only a 10 minute walk.
- By Metro: the farm is only a few steps away from Yser metro station (Lines 2/6 Simonis - Elisabeth stations).
- By Car: parking is not allowed nearby the farm, but you can park a little farther and then walk for a bit (free on-street parking in Brussels green zone, for paid parking check out Manhattan - Indigo 800 m away)
M to F, 09:30 to 17:00 - no reservation necessary
All seasons
Free
OOpen; national COVD-19 guidelines apply. Group visits with max 15 people.