Royal Palace of Laeken in Brussels, Atomium and Mini-Europe

Each year the Royal Palace of Laeken opens their gates to the public for 3 weeks.  This year was no exception.  From April 15 to May 6, 2016 the gates opened, visitors shuffled in through security and were welcomed onto the grounds of the Royal Palace.  Me went by Metro and got off at the Stuyvenbergh stop on the Line 6.  It was an easy trip (30 minutes from the center) on the metro and then a 10-15 minute walk to the grounds.

The tour of the grounds took about two hours and it was well worth the 2.50 euros each person had to pay to get in.

After touring the gardens it is a 20-30 minute walk to the Atomium and Mini-Europe.  If you plan and have the time you could visit this in the same day.  After looking online, I found the prices for the Atomium and other activities grouped together at this website.

Please enjoy the images below!

The line of guests waiting to go through
security at the Royal Palace of Laeken.

A Greenhouse seen through the windows of another greenhouse.

A statue pictured between the bushes in the garden,

Stairs leading to the Winter Garden.

An interesting twisting tree on the grounds.

The grounds with trees.  A pretty sight of the sunny Belgian afternoon.

The grounds with "The Japanese Tower" in the background.
This was acquired at the World's Fair of Paris in 1900 by King Leopold the II. 

A picture of the King and Queen of Belgium.

A picture of the Royal Kids and their dog in front of the Winter Garden.

An interesting stump with flowers growing out of it.

The sculpting studio of Queen Elizabeth the First.

Image of a small garden within the greenhouses.

A wing of the green houses.

A black and white photo of the concrete structure and
glass connecting at the top of the greenhouse.

A photo of the glass of the top of a greenhouse.

A black, yellow, and red chair, lined up
together like the flag of Belgium.

A picture of the Atomium.