Royal Palace
Where the king works
Belgium had a rough start finding its first monarch, but finally landed on Leopold I in 1831. He was “King of the Belgians,” not “King of Belgium,” in a nod to the people-centered monarchy. Today, King Philippe uses the Royal Palace as his office. Look up: a flying Belgian flag means the King is in the country, while ceremonial guards out front signal he’s working inside. A second flag on the side dome? That’s a visiting head of state.
Fire to palace
This neoclassical gem stands on what was once Coudenberg Palace, destroyed by a kitchen fire in 1731. Over time, two mansions merged into the palace you see now. Its grand façade dates back to Leopold II in the early 20th century – a piece of Belgian history you can’t miss.

Inside peek

The throne room (without throne)
Belgians do things differently – no official throne here. It’s also where Leopold III abdicated after WWII, after much national drama.

The mirror room
Features a ceiling covered in one million synthetic beetle wings, thanks to artist Jan Fabre. Surreal? Yes. Stunning? Absolutely.
History gone missing
The Magna Aula was once the grand hall of Coudenberg Palace, where Emperor Charles V famously stepped down. When archaeologists found 500 medieval tiles from this hall buried under the streets, they stashed them under a nearby bridge—only to have someone steal the entire lot. Now, they’re probably adorning some wealthy villa’s floor.
