Royal Trust (Belgium)
Encyclopedia
The Royal Trust was proposed in a letter by king Leopold II of Belgium
on 9 April 1900, in addition some properties were added to the donation in a letter of 15 November 1900. The Belgian government accepted the donation by law on 31 December 1903 (Belgian Monitor of 1 January 1904). When the King handed the Congo Free State
over to the Belgian government on 28 November 1907, additional properties were added to the Royal Trust (law of 18 October 1908, published in the Belgian Monitor of 18 October 1908) .
The King donated his properties, such as his lands, castles and buildings, to the Belgian
nation. The donation was made on three conditions: the properties would never be sold, they would have to retain their function and appearance, and they would remain at the disposal of the successors to the Belgian throne. Since 1930, the Royal Trust is an autonomous public institution which operates completely independently (Royal decree of 9 April 1930 - Belgian monitor of 29 May 1930).
do belong to the Royal Trust.
The Royal Trust also owns woods and land that it rents to private persons and semi-public institutions.
...
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
on 9 April 1900, in addition some properties were added to the donation in a letter of 15 November 1900. The Belgian government accepted the donation by law on 31 December 1903 (Belgian Monitor of 1 January 1904). When the King handed the Congo Free State
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
over to the Belgian government on 28 November 1907, additional properties were added to the Royal Trust (law of 18 October 1908, published in the Belgian Monitor of 18 October 1908) .
The King donated his properties, such as his lands, castles and buildings, to the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
nation. The donation was made on three conditions: the properties would never be sold, they would have to retain their function and appearance, and they would remain at the disposal of the successors to the Belgian throne. Since 1930, the Royal Trust is an autonomous public institution which operates completely independently (Royal decree of 9 April 1930 - Belgian monitor of 29 May 1930).
Properties
The Royal Palace of Brussels and the Royal Castle of Laeken are the property of the Belgian State and are not part of the Royal Trust. However the park surrounding the Royal Castle of Laeken and the Royal Greenhouses of LaekenRoyal Greenhouses of Laeken
The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken , are a vast complex of monumental heated greenhouses in the park of the Royal Castle of Laeken in Brussels and one of the major tourist attractions of the city. The complex was commissioned by King Leopold II of Belgium and designed by Alphonse Balat...
do belong to the Royal Trust.
The Royal Trust also owns woods and land that it rents to private persons and semi-public institutions.
Used by the Royal Family
- Belvédère Castle (private residence of King Albert II of BelgiumAlbert II of BelgiumAlbert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
) - Park of the Royal Castle of Laeken
- Royal Greenhouses of LaekenRoyal Greenhouses of LaekenThe Royal Greenhouses of Laeken , are a vast complex of monumental heated greenhouses in the park of the Royal Castle of Laeken in Brussels and one of the major tourist attractions of the city. The complex was commissioned by King Leopold II of Belgium and designed by Alphonse Balat...
(used for state receptions etc.) - Stuyvenberg Castle (residence of Queen Fabiola of BelgiumQueen Fabiola of BelgiumQueen Fabiola of Belgium is the widow of King Baudouin of Belgium. She was Queen consort of the Belgians for 33 years...
) - Villa Clémentine (currently the house of Prince Laurent of Belgium) in TervurenTervurenTervuren is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Duisburg, Tervuren, Vossem and Moorsel. On January 1, 2006, Tervuren had a total population of 20,636...
- Ciergnon Castle (holiday retreat)
- Fenffe Castle (id.)
- Villers-sur-Lesse Castle (near HouyetHouyetHouyet is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 4,485 inhabitants. The total area is 122.31 km², giving a population density of 37 inhabitants per km²....
, occasionally used as hunting lodge)
Open as public parks
- Arboretum in TervurenTervurenTervuren is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Duisburg, Tervuren, Vossem and Moorsel. On January 1, 2006, Tervuren had a total population of 20,636...
- Dudenpark / Parc Duden in ForestForest, BelgiumForest or Vorst is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.The town is commonly known for its concert hall...
- Elisabethpark / Parc Elisabeth in Laeken
- Maria-Henriëttepark in Oostende
- Leopold II-park in NieuwpoortNieuwpoort, BelgiumNieuwpoort is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Nieuwpoort proper and the towns of Ramskapelle and Sint-Joris. On January 1, 2008 Nieuwpoort had a total population of 11,062....
- Koloniale Tuin / Jardin Colonial in Laeken
Open to the public
- Memorial Chapel for Queen Astrid of Belgium, in KüssnachtKüssnachtKüssnacht am Rigi is a district and municipality in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland, consisting of three villages: Küssnacht, Immensee and Merlischachen...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... - Japanese Tower in Laeken
- Chinese Pavilion in Laeken
Rented to golf clubs
- Park and castle at Ravenstein in TervurenTervurenTervuren is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Duisburg, Tervuren, Vossem and Moorsel. On January 1, 2006, Tervuren had a total population of 20,636...
- Park of Ardenne Castle
- Golf course in Klemskerke near De Haan, BelgiumDe Haan, BelgiumDe Haan is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of De Haan proper, Klemskerke, Vlissegem and Wenduine. On January 1, 2006 De Haan had a total population of 11,925...
Other
- Hertoginnedal Castle / Val Duchesse Castle in AuderghemAuderghemAuderghem or Oudergem is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium....
- Château Ferage / Feragekasteel
- Koninklijke Villa (Royal Villa) in Oostende
- 15.5 km² farmland
- 48 km² woodland in HouyetHouyetHouyet is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 4,485 inhabitants. The total area is 122.31 km², giving a population density of 37 inhabitants per km²....
- 5 km² woodland in PostelPostelPostel is a surname, and may refer to:* Georg-Wilhelm Postel, a World War II German general* Gert Postel, a German impostor* Guillaume Postel, a French polymath* Jon Postel, an Internet pioneer* Kaitlynne Postel, a competitor for Miss America 2008...
- Terrains of the British School in TervurenTervurenTervuren is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Duisburg, Tervuren, Vossem and Moorsel. On January 1, 2006, Tervuren had a total population of 20,636...
- Ponds of Boitsfort
- Wellington-renbaan (Wellington racecourse) and "Noorse Stallen" (Norwegian Stables) in Oostende
- Sports centre in Strombeek-BeverStrombeek-BeverStrombeek-Bever is an urbanised town with about 11,500 inhabitants in the municipality of Grimbergen, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium. A suburb on the north side of Brussels, it is separated from Grimbergen proper by the R0 ring road around the city...
- dunes in De PanneDe PanneDe Panne is a municipality located along the North Sea coast of the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Adinkerke and De Panne proper. On 1 January 2006 De Panne had a total population of 10,060. The total area is 23.90 km² which gives a population...
- Offices in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Kunstberg / Mont des Arts) - Vier-Armenkruispunt / Carrefour des Quatre-Bras
...