BRUSSELS – The people of Brussels are craving open spaces in this time of pandemic restrictions, often ending up in overcrowded city parks where social distancing is impossible.
Yet one family stands above the fray. The royal family has an extensive, lush garden right in the center of town, nearly the size of Monaco and replete with a massive palace and its own rare heron colony.
So, is there any wonder that more and more voices are clamoring for King Philippe to loosen up and open at least part of his palace garden to the public during the world's worst health crisis in a century?
So far, though, no walls have been torn down, no iron gates swung open. “They hardly ever get in there. Come on! Those gardens are simply empty," sighed an