Each year, the Royal Greenhouses in Laeken – normally closed to the public – open their doors for three weeks. Locals, tourists and botany enthusiasts are given the chance to marvel at these hidden architectural gems and a collection of rare plants.
The gardens and the greenhouses of the Royal Palace in the north of Brussels will be open to the public from 26 April to 20 May this year, corresponding to the flowering period. Visits are only possible from Tuesday to Sunday, but also on Monday 20 May as this is a public holiday. On weekends, the site is also open in the evening.
Tickets for this rare occasion, which cost €6, went on sale at 11:00 on 11 April. Admission is free for children under 12, but advance reservation is mandatory. People can reserve up to 15 tickets each, and they often sell out quickly.
Some 100,000 visitors are expected to visit the greenhouses over the three weeks. Importantly, it is not possible to buy or reserve tickets on-site, so reservations must be made online to visit the greenhouses.
"On Tuesday 14 May, we will provide support for people with reduced mobility with an adapted trail (+/- 2km) and guidance at the critical points of the trail," the organisers noted.
Option to visit gardens
At the entrance, visitors can opt for a 2 km tour (around 1.5 hours) – which focuses solely on the greenhouses, and which is the only tour available at night – or a longer 3 km walk (around 1.5 hours), which begins with a walk through the gardens of the Royal Estate, leaving time to admire a panoramic view of the greenhouses.
The walk then continues inside the glasshouses, taking visitors through the Congo Greenhouse, dedicated to subtropical plants; the Winter Garden, known for its tree ferns under the largest dome in the complex; and the Embarcadère, which was once used as a reception area for visitors.
Inside the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken. Credit: The Brussels Times
The Royal Greenhouses were designed in 1874 by architect Alphonse Balat, who was the teacher of renowned Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta and King Leopold II to complement the Château de Laeken, built in the classical style.
Some of the plants on display today were present among the original plantings made by the King, while others are entirely unique in the world.
In total, more than 30 gardeners work to maintain the plantations and the 186-hectare estate throughout the year. In recent months, they have been working to create the ideal conditions for all the plants, both in the gardens and inside the greenhouses themselves.
