Another nearby residence, the Villa Schonenberg, is home to Princess Astrid, the sister of the current king, Philippe.

[2] The château was meant for his sister Carlotta of Mexico, but she chose to live in the suburb of Tervuren, just outside Brussels, which left Belvédère empty for a while.

In 1890, a fire broke out in the Royal Palace of Laeken,[3] and Leopold II and his wife Marie Henriette of Austria moved into Belvédère while repairs took place.

Once the repairs were finished, Leopold and Marie Henriette moved back into the Royal Palace, while Belvédère became the residence of their youngest daughter, Princess Clementine.

The following year, the newlyweds Prince Albert of Liège and Paola Ruffo di Calabria moved into the château, which expanded to 5 hectares (12 acres), having acquired parts of a local park.