Tickets to visit the famous Royal Greenhouses of Laeken in April and May will go on sale on Thursday. Make sure to get them before they're gone: the coveted tickets sold out in just three days last year.
The greenhouses and surrounding 187-hectare estate are closed to the public for most of the year – to the dismay of local politicians who have repeatedly tried to make it partially accessible. However, for three weeks every spring, visitors are invited to discover the stunning structures and (sub)tropical plants, many of which are extremely rare and valuable.
This year, the grounds will be accessible from Friday 18 April until Sunday 11 May. Tickets for this rare occasion can only be purchased online in advance, and will go on sale at 13:00 on Thursday 20 March. It is not possible to buy tickets on-site.
Children under 12 can visit for free (reservation is still needed). For others, the admission fee was €6 for the 2024 edition. It is currently unclear whether the price will go up this year.
Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
Every year, tickets sell out quickly, spurring organisers to add extra time slots.
Last year, a total of 148,000 people purchased a ticket, some 37,000 more than the previous edition. Still, hoards of people rushed to the website even before tickets went on sale last year, resulting in the site's servers overloading on the first day. All available tickets sold out in three days.
What to expect
Tickets can be bought for a daytime visit, but on some days, people can also book to take a peek after sunset.
In previous editions, visitors were given the choice at the entrance to opt for a two-kilometre tour – which focuses solely on the greenhouses, and which is the only tour available at night – or a longer three-kilometre walk. The latter begins with a walk through the gardens of the Royal Estate, featuring several Japanese cherry blossoms and a panoramic view of the greenhouses.
The walk then continues inside the glasshouses. The complex was designed for King Léopold II in 1873 by architect Alphonse Balat (the mentor of Victor Horta). It was built in the classical style typical of the period, and took 21 years to complete.
It consists of different plateaus, galleries and squares, all of which have a different theme and collection of trees and plants.
Inside the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken. Credit: The Brussels Times
The tour takes visitors through the Congo Greenhouse, dedicated to subtropical plants. It was built between 1886 and 1888, when King Léopold II was ruling the Congo Free State, his private colony that was under his brutal rule from 1885 to 1908. During this time, the indigenous Congolese population was subject to violence by Belgian officials and a ruthless system of economic exploitation.
Visitors will also be led through the Palm Greenhouse and the Orangery.
An inside view of the greenhouse during a press visit to the greenhouses of the Royal castle in Laeken, Brussels, before the opening to the public, Friday 14 April 2023. The greenhouses can be visited during three weeks. Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
Unfortunately, a favourite among visitors – the Winter Garden – will likely not be accessible this year due to restoration works.
It is known for its tree ferns under the largest dome in the complex. Its dimensions made it possible to plant tall palm trees, most of which date back to the time of King Léopold II.
