Wolvendael Park
park in Uccle, Brussels, Belgium
Wolvendael Park (French: Parc de Wolvendael; Dutch: Wolvendaelpark) is an urban public park of 14.5 ha (36 acres) in the municipality of Uccle in Brussels, Belgium. Its origins date back to the 18th century as the grounds surrounding a country house of the same name, built in the neoclassical style.
Toponymy
The name is of Flemish origin and is not derived from the Dutch word wolven ("wolves"), despite common assumptions. It is generally interpreted as meaning "valley (dael) at the bend (wolf or wolve)", referring to a meander in the valley of the Ukkelbeek.
History
The earliest known reference dates from 1209, when the Cartulary of Affligem Abbey, published by Edgard de Marneffe, mentioned "Terram que woluesdal vocatur", referring to a site named Wolvendael near a bend in the valley of the Ukkelbeek.
From the 17th century onwards, the site appears as a pleasure estate, although little is known about its early ownership. In the early 18th century, the domain belonged to Jean-François Slijpen, who sold it in 1715 to Eugène-Henri Fricx. He is believed to have built a villa on the site. In 1733, the estate passed to Thomas de Fraula, during which time it comprised gardens, orchards, and woodland.
In the 19th century, the estate changed hands several times and underwent significant development.
“Wolvendael Park” enters the record as park in Uccle, Brussels, Belgium. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Wolvendael, Park and park can confirm, complicate or overturn.
Why this record matters
“Wolvendael Park” is worth following because a concise public description often conceals a longer documentary argument. Here, Wolvendael, Park and park provides the most credible route into that argument.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 24, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q3364358. Authority coordinates are 50.800, 4.344. 2 of 2 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1209, 1715 and 1733.
Architectural summaries often privilege surviving fabric and can understate demolished phases, contested use or displaced communities. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
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Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
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Three-step research path
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This entry incorporates text from “Wolvendael Park” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.