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    Waterloo
    Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Belgium

    Waterloo

    City

    Waterloo, located about 15 kilometers south of Brussels in Walloon Brabant, gave its name to the battle of June 18, 1815, where Napoleon was decisively defeated.

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    7. Walloon Brabant
    9. Waterloo
    Waterloo, located about 15 kilometers south of Brussels in Walloon Brabant, gave its name to the battle of June 18, 1815, where Napoleon was decisively defeated. The battlefield, featuring the Lion's Mound, Panorama, and Hougoumont Farm, is one of Europe's most renowned memorial sites.In the town itself, the Wellington Museum commemorates the headquarters of the British commander. However, most of the battlefield sites are situated a few kilometers to the south, in the municipality of Braine-l'Alleud.
    Waterloo, with about 30,000 residents, is today an affluent Brussels suburb. Its center on the Chaussée de Bruxelles, housing the Wellington Museum and Saint-Joseph Church, is quickly explored. The actual battlefield, some four kilometers south, gathers the Domaine de la Bataille de Waterloo Mémorial 1815, Panorama, Lion's Mound, and Hougoumont. Allow at least half a day for the battlefield.

    Sights in Waterloo

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Farm of Hougoumont
    Museum

    1Farm of Hougoumont

    The walled farm was an advanced Allied outpost and was attacked throughout the day by French troops. For its 200th anniversary, it was restored and reopened on June 18, 2015; today it features a small museum and a sound and light show.
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    Lion's Mound and Memorial 1815
    Historic Landmark

    2Lion's Mound and Memorial 1815

    The 41-meter-high mound was built up between 1824 and 1826 and bears a cast-iron lion weighing approximately 28 tons; ascend 226 steps to the platform for panoramic views over the battlefield. At its foot, the Mémorial 1815 tells the story of the battle with original objects and a 4D film; nearby, the 1912 Panorama displays a 110-meter-long circular painting. A combi-ticket covers all sites.
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    Wellington Museum
    Museum

    3Wellington Museum

    The museum in the former Auberge Bodenghien (1705) on the Chaussée de Bruxelles served as Wellington's headquarters during the battle. Opposite is the Chapelle royale Saint-Joseph with memorial plaques for the fallen.
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    Restaurants in Waterloo

    1

    La Cuisine du Côté Vert

    Classic French cuisine on the Chaussée de Bruxelles, recommended in the Michelin Guide.
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    2

    La Scarpetta

    Italian cuisine on the Chaussée de Bruxelles, recommended in the Michelin Guide.
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    Food and Drink in Waterloo

    Beer Waterloo

    Beer from the microbrewery of the Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean, the farm where Wellington established his field hospital in 1815.

    The Battle of 1815

    June 18, 1815At Waterloo, the army under the Duke of Wellington and the Prussians under Blücher defeated Napoleon's troops. In Germany, the Battle of Belle-Alliance was long spoken of. Wellington's statement that the outcome depended on the closing of the gates of Hougoumont is known to this day.Memorial LandscapeKing Wilhelm I of the Netherlands had the Lion's Mound built between 1824 and 1826, on the spot where his son is said to have been wounded. The Panorama was added in 1912, and Hougoumont Farm was restored for the 200th anniversary in 2015. From June to December 2026, a mapping show will reveal the aftermath of the battle.

    Getting There and Around in Waterloo

    Getting ThereWaterloo is located on the Brussels-Charleroi railway line and is directly served by Brussels' S-Bahn lines. For the battlefield, Braine-l'Alleud station is also conveniently located.On SiteA bus travels from Waterloo or Braine-l'Alleud station to Mémorial 1815. On weekends, public holidays, and school breaks from April to October, a shuttle operates between Mémorial and Hougoumont. Free parking is available at the battlefield.

    Accommodations in Waterloo

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    Campgrounds in Waterloo

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    Plan your trip to Waterloo

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      • 1Farm of Hougoumont3 days
      • 2Lion's Mound and Memorial 18154 days
      • 3Wellington Museum5 days
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    Nearby

    Walloon Brabant

    Walloon Brabant

    Walloon Brabant is Wallonia's smallest province, starting directly on the southern edge of Brussels. You come here for the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Villers, the Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve, and one of Belgium's oldest Romanesque churches in Nivelles.Amidst fields, forests, and villa towns like Genval, many commuters from the capital reside, and rail and roads are consequently good. For families, Walibi and the Battlefield of Waterloo are only a few kilometers apart.
    Brussels

    Brussels

    Brussels is the capital of Belgium and home to key EU institutions, also one of Europe's great cultural cities. Around the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998, are guildhouses, 19th-century covered shopping arcades, and countless brasseries; in addition, there's the Atomium, Victor Horta's Art Nouveau houses, and the Magritte Museum.
    Brussels-Capital Region

    Brussels-Capital Region

    The Brussels-Capital Region encompasses the Belgian capital and 18 other municipalities, bilingual, international, and home to numerous EU institutions. Beyond the Old Town, Art Nouveau houses, a huge Art Deco basilica, Lambic breweries, and a World Heritage beech forest are worth visiting.Each of the 19 municipalities has its own character, from the villa-lined streets in Ixelles and Saint-Gilles to the working-class districts of Anderlecht. Metro, tram, and bus connect everything, while strict rules of the environmental zone apply for cars.
    Flemish Brabant

    Flemish Brabant

    Flemish Brabant lies like a green ring around Brussels, with Leuven as its capital and rural areas starting just a thirty-minute drive away. The province is the land of Lambic, full of castles and forests, ideal for day trips from the capital.In the Pajottenland, west of Brussels, Geuze and Kriek mature in wooden barrels, while Gaasbeek and Beersel showcase two very different castles. In spring, the Hallerbos boasts a blue carpet of bluebells, and in the east, Tervuren and Diest guide you through colonial and Orange history.
    Leuven

    Leuven

    Leuven (German: Löwen) is located approximately 25 kilometres east of Brussels and has been home to one of Europe's oldest universities since 1425. You come here for the Late Gothic Town Hall, the UNESCO-protected Great Beguinage, and an Old Town shaped by student life.More than 50,000 students from KU Leuven ensure the cafés on Oude Markt are bustling late into the night. The city is also home to the headquarters of brewing giant AB InBev, where Stella Artois is brewed. The compact city centre is easily explored on foot.