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Vilvoorde

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City
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Vilvoorde (Belgium)
ℹ️

Practical info — Vilvoorde

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • The renovated Watersite area along the canal is first-rate for a pleasant evening walk or cycling trip.
  • Vilvoorde is an excellent, more affordable base for visiting Brussels, with very fast and frequent train connections.
  • The city's nickname is "Pjeirefretters" (horse eaters), and you can still find traditional horse meat dishes in historic brasseries.
  • The main shopping street, Leuvensestraat, has been revamped and is highly walkable.
  • Visit the Drie Fonteinen domain to see one of the oldest landscape parks in Belgium.

🍽 Food

🍽
Paardensteak

Traditional horse steak, a historic local specialty still served in classic brasseries near the center.

🍽
Geuze and Kriek

Traditional sour beers of the Zenne valley, available in cozy local pubs.

🍽
Belgian Waffles

Grab a freshly baked waffle from a street vendor or cafe along the main shopping street.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Leuvensestraat

The bustling main shopping street with a variety of fashion stores and local businesses.

🛍
Wednesday & Saturday Market

Held in the center, these markets are great for fresh produce and roasted chicken.

🛍
Canal-side Boutiques

The newly developed areas near the water are beginning to host trendy new shops.

🧘
Domein Drie Fonteinen

A magnificent large park featuring a French garden, an English landscape garden, and calm walking paths.

🧘
Brussels-Scheldt Canal Towpaths

The paths along the water provide a long, flat, and peaceful route for walking or cycling.

🧘
Hanssenspark

A classic city park with a large pond and mature trees, handy for a quick nature escape.

Highlights of 2026

2

Vilvoorde serves as an industrial and residential suburb directly north of Brussels, located along the Brussels-Scheldt Maritime Canal. The city's landscape has been significantly shaped by heavy industry, most notably the former Renault assembly plant, whose closure in 1997 marked a turning point in the local economy. Recent urban development has focused on repurposing these post-industrial zones into modern residential and commercial areas, such as the Watersite project along the canal. The historical core retains its provincial Flemish character, featuring the Gothic Church of Our Lady of Good Hope. Vilvoorde is also characterized by a large Spanish community, which originated in the mid-20th century, adding a distinct cultural and culinary influence to the city.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C3361013171918151173
Rain mm696155385963757955636978

Live webcam – Vilvoorde

See what it looks like near Vilvoorde right now.

Grimbergen › West: Grimbergen Airfield · 3.3 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com

Geography

Population
36,955
Coordinates
50.92810, 4.42830

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Vilvoorde (12)

Small Pond🌿 nature

A local lake in Vilvoorde, well-suited for walks and enjoying the natural scenery.

Millenniumpark👨‍👩‍👧 family

A family-friendly playground in Vilvoorde offering plenty of space for children to play.

Speeltuin Hanssenspark👨‍👩‍👧 family

A family-friendly playground in Vilvoorde offering plenty of space for children to play.

Kasteel Pellenberg🏰 castle

Kasteel Pellenberg, a castle on the Pellenberg hill in Vilvoorde.

Sena's Tower🏰 castle

Sena's Tower, a castle tower in Vilvoorde.

Park van het Kasteel Batenborch🌿 nature

The park of a castle in Vilvoorde, inviting for recreation.

CC Het Bolwerk🎭 culture

The cultural centre of Vilvoorde featuring theatre and concert events.

🕒 Mo, Th-Fr 09:00-12:00; Tu-We 09:00-12:00, 13:30-16:00

Domein Ter Tommen🌿 nature

A natural area in Vilvoorde appreciated for its landscapes.

Kasteel Beaulieu🏰 castle

Kasteel Beaulieu, a castle named 'beautiful place' in Vilvoorde.

Park Drie Fonteinen🌳 park

One of the oldest landscape parks in Belgium, located in Vilvoorde.

Thermae Boetfort🎡 recreation

A sauna and wellness center located on a historical castle estate in Vilvoorde.

De Ark Brussel🎡 recreation

A zoological area in Vilvoorde featuring various animals.

Frequently asked questions

Why are the inhabitants called 'Pjeirefretters'?
The name means 'horse eaters' and refers to the tradition of eating horse meat.
Are there statues of horses in the city?
Yes, a large bronze statue of a Brabant draft horse stands in the center.
What is Hanssenspark?
A beautiful city park with a large pond and old trees.
Is Vilvoorde located directly on a canal?
Yes, on the Brussels-Scheldt Maritime Canal.
How far is Vilvoorde from Brussels?
It is located only about 10-12 km north of Brussels city center.
Vilvoorde: where is it located?
Vilvoorde is located in Belgium.
Vilvoorde: what is there to see?
Highlights include Small Pond, Millenniumpark, Speeltuin Hanssenspark.
Vilvoorde: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Vilvoorde: why is it worth visiting?
Vilvoorde serves as an industrial and residential suburb directly north of Brussels, located along the Brussels-Scheldt Maritime Canal.
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