City park Sebrechts, a green oasis
Ever since the 15th century this park has been an open space. Back then there was a vegetable garden of the Sisters of Saint-Elizabeth. Two centuries later the convent was dissolved and the complex was sold publically. In 1885 city archiver Louis Gilliodts-Van Severen and his daughter bought the garden and the adjoining 18th century house. In 1907 a monumental gate was built as an entrance to the garden from the side of the 'Oude Zak'. (streetname) In 1928 the domain was sold to Joseph Sebrechts, a famous surgeon of the Saint-John's hospital. He hired Leon Anseeuw to redecorate the garden and gave him carte blanche. Appels, pears and peaches were planted, there was a vegetable garden for chicory and melons and a decorative garden with colourful flower mosaics.
Ten years after Dr Sebrechts's death the property went to the government, which stationed Finance Department there. Plans were made to build a huge administrative centre. The vegetable garden wasn't looked after anymore and the garden was eventually transformed into a parkinglot.
Luckily the park went to the city in 1981, and almost inmediatly after the lay out of a new garden was realised. One year later the city park opened its gates. Now there are cute benches and rocking horses and a sandbox for the children. The students of the secondary school 'Sisters of Maricoles" weekly meet their with their gymnastics teacher.
