This is the official residence of King Albert II of Belgium. It was originally built in 18th century and intended as a summer residence of Archduchess Maria Cristina of Austria.
When King Leopold I, the uncle of Queen Victoria of England, ascended to the Belgian throne in 1831, he chose the castle as his official residence. It was inherited by the succeeding monarchs since then.
The last monarch to reside in Castle of Laeken was King Boudouin, when Albert II succeeded his brother in 1993 he chose to remain at Château du Belvédère and the Castle of Laeken was given to his eldest son and successor, Prince Philippe, the Duke of Brabant. The castle has a beautiful landscape of garden and surrounded by lakes, golf course and pavilions.
