Leopoldsburg and Kamp Beverlo, the army camp that grew a town

Apart from a few monumental buildings the town of Leopoldsburg isn't very esthetically pleasing. The buildings were never built according to an overarching plan or vision, only the layout of streets was predetermined. This has led to a hotchpotch of building styles very common in Belgium. Many buildings are merely constructed and are visibly not designed. This makes for a great variety but also gives the impression of unordered private initiative. The links between the town grid and military camp have been well executed. The neighbouring Kamp Beverlo is totally different. Both layout and buildings have been designed along certain principles and a lot of thought has gone into placement of the volumes. The military camp is very leafy and spacious with buildings and monuments dotted about, often on sightlines, giving the impression of a park. 

 

The station has been built on the extended central axis of the Kamp Beverlo grid. The yellow colour contrast greatly with the surrounding brick built buildings. With the sun bouncing of it, it's even visible from the edge of the military camp.

 

An aggressive looking lion crowns the war memorial in front of the city hall on the very spacious Astridplein, a rectangular square named in honour of Queen Astrid of Belgium (1905-1935). On the extended axis of the town grid a memorial chapel has been built, it forms the centre of the honorary military cemetery on the edge of the royal park.

 

This convent dominates the second square in Leopoldsburg. This large open space has been planted as a public garden and was named Koning Albert I plein in honour of Albert I King of the Belgians (1875-1934). The complex has been built around the first church of Leopoldsburg.

The royal park lies at the heart of Kamp Beverlo and functions as the urban park of the adjoining town of Leopoldsburg. It was clearly designed in a mixed style with naturalistic planting and undulating paths within a framework of vistas and formal avenues. Next to where the royal palace once stood the pavilion of the Minister of War still stands. It is hidden from view by some shrubs.

 

This eclectic building (1869) inspired by Bavarian and Japanese architecture is situated on the edge of the royal park. It is known as the pavilion of the Commander of the Royal Engineers. As that name suggests it was meant to be an ornamental building within the royal park. It is still in use.

 

The military camp has several large monuments placed on its long tree lined avenues. On the left the Tacambaro Monument (1867) commemorating the battle of the same name, fought in Mexico by Belgian troops as part of the French army on April 14 1865. Leopold's daughter Charlotte was married to Maximilian King of Mexico. The monument shows the emblematic eagle with the snake, a symbol for Mexico. On the right the monument placed on the central axis of the royal palace on the edge of the parade ground commemorates General Pierre Emanuel Chazal (1808-1892) who played an important part in the independence of Belgium both as a politician and a military officer. He also designed the army camp of Beverlo.

The parade ground was formerly known as La place du canon (Canon Square), named after the alarm canon placed here in 1837. After the Great War the name was changed to the current Zegeplaats (Victory Place). It is sometimes also referred to as Overwinningsplaats (Triumph Place).

Spread along the avenues large houses were built for officers of the Belgian armed forces. The early houses are places as pavilion in a park like setting. These buildings are always detached villas in an eclectic style. Two examples can be seen here. Later buildings (after 1918) are semidetached en more formally placed in rows along tree lined streets.

The whole of the Kamp Beverlo is very spacious with long tree lined avenues, woodland and the occasional building. On the eastside the military barracks for ordinary soldiers are still located behind high fences. The rest of the military camp serves as a large park to the inhabitants of the neigbouring town of Leopoldsburg.