Park Den Brandt

In Park Den Brandt, the first park on our route, our guide tells us about the history of the Nachtegalenpark, which has been the collective name for the parks Vogelzang (40 hectares), Den Brandt (21 hectares), and Middelheim (29 hectares) since 1910. In each park stood a castle, owned by a wealthy Antwerp family. “Antwerp residents would come to this area as early as the 19th century to escape the city’s bustle and went to Afspanning de Dikke Mee for a drink or to place a 'dance'.”

The city purchased the parks in 1910, except for 16 hectares of Park Den Brandt, which remained the property of the Kreglinger family until 1962. “Castle Den Brandt is now an event location. Castle Middelheim is a café-restaurant, and only the outbuildings of Castle Vogelzang remain. One of them houses the urban primary school Kosmos. At the spot where the castle once stood, there is a memorial from 1930 for the 7th line regiment from WWI.” Through the second avenue on the left in the park, you walk to the Antwerp Bunker Museum.

GVA - Gazet van Antwerpen