Over thirty gardeners work tirelessly throughout the year to maintain the 186-hectare estate and its plantations. Johan Lauwers, the head gardener of the Greenhouses, shares that they are already preparing for next year. Each edition of the open days features a slightly modified route to provide visitors with new experiences. Only three weeks of the year are open to the public, coinciding with the flowering period. The challenge lies in playing with the variability of spring weather to have blossoms in time for the opening. The Royal Greenhouses, designed in an Art Nouveau style by architect Alphonse Balat and King Leopold II in 1874, showcase some of the original plantations still present today. Approximately 100,000 visitors are anticipated to visit the Greenhouses in the upcoming three weeks.
In total, more than thirty gardeners work to maintain the plantations and the 186-hectare estate, throughout the year. “We are now starting to prepare for next year.“, explains Johan Lauwers, the head gardener of the Greenhouses. For each edition, the route is also slightly modified and offers new things to visitors.
The three weeks open to the public are those that correspond to the flowering period. “Everything is calculated. We have to play with what spring gives us in terms of heat and sunshine, to have flowers for the opening. It’s a real challenge“, notes the gardener.
The Royal Greenhouses were designed in 1874 by the architect Alphonse Balat, teacher of Victor Horta, and King Leopold II, in an Art Nouveau style. Some of the plants exhibited today were already present among the original plantations created by the King. About 100,000 visitors are expected in the Greenhouses over the next three weeks.
In conclusion, the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken are an exceptional example of the beauty that man and nature can create together. Thanks to the hard work of the team of gardeners, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking spectacle of exotic plants and flowers. The Royal Greenhouses stand not only as a tribute to the art of gardening but also as an important landmark of Belgium’s cultural heritage. If you haven’t visited them yet, make sure to put them on your bucket list!