The yew maze
Inspired by the Song of Songs, in among the finest private gardens open in Belgium.
Alberto Fernandez Fernandez (talk). The original uploader was Afernand74 at English Wikipedia. — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Donarreiskoffer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Donarreiskoffer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Donarreiskoffer — CC BY-SA 4.0
A private house of the 1930s in Uccle south of Brussels, built by the Dutch banker David van Buuren and his wife Alice, and left as it stood with its furniture and possessions to become a museum. The house is a complete example of Art Deco interior design: every piece of furniture, carpet, lamp and stained-glass panel was designed for this house specifically, and the result is an integrated interior that rarely survives intact. The art collection includes Dutch and Belgian works, the best known being a version of the Fall of Icarus. The gardens are integral rather than an addition: a rose garden, the Garden of the Heart designed for Alice, and a yew maze inspired by the Song of Songs, among the finest private gardens open in Belgium. The location in southern Brussels is away from the centre and needs a tram. That makes it a standalone visit rather than an addition, but the combination of an intact Art Deco house with gardens of this quality is genuinely rare.
Inspired by the Song of Songs, in among the finest private gardens open in Belgium.
With its furniture and possessions complete, not rooms refurnished later.
Designed specifically for Alice van Buuren, part of the house's story rather than decoration.
Uccle, southern Brussels
Constantin Meunier MuseumThe house and studio of the Belgian sculptor and painter Constantin Meunier (18317 minutes walk4.5
Horta MuseumThe Horta Museum is the house and studio of Victor Horta, father of architectura20 minutes walk4.5
Bois de la CambreThe Bois de la Cambre is Brussels' great natural park — 120 hectares of landscap22 minutes walk4.5Spring or early summer if the gardens matter to you, when the roses and maze are at their best. The house itself is unaffected by season, but half the value of the visit is outdoors, so winter reduces it considerably.
If Art Deco or gardens interest you, clearly yes; the combination of a fully intact interior with gardens of this quality is rare. If your days in Brussels are few, the central museums and the Grand Place come first.