Laeken Japanese Pagoda
Photo: Moyaertsd / CC BY-SA 4.0, modified.
Overview
The Laeken Japanese Pagoda, usually known as the Japanese Tower or Tour Japonaise, is a Japanese-style tower in Laeken, Brussels. It forms part of the Museums of the Far East complex, together with the Chinese Pavilion and the Museum of Japanese Art. Visit Brussels states that the Japanese Tower was erected between 1901 and 1904 by King Leopold II and that the three buildings are currently closed for renovation.
History
The project followed King Leopold II’s visit to the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900, where he encountered architect Alexandre Marcel. Marcel designed a Laeken complex that included the Japanese Tower and the Chinese Pavilion. Visit Brussels gives the broader construction period for the complex as 1901–1910, while the Japanese Tower itself is dated 1901–1904.
Design features
The tower is a Japanese-style pagoda structure with richly decorated interiors, including chased copper panels, stucco and stained glass. Visit Brussels notes that some of the tower’s decoration consists of original antique pieces imported directly from Japan. The surrounding setting includes planted grounds connected with the Far Eastern architectural ensemble, but this should be treated primarily as an architectural Japonisme site, not as a fully developed independent Japanese garden.
Garden elements
Buildings
Current status
Extant; part of the Museums of the Far East site; closed for renovation (2026)