Spring and its rebirth are finally here! So, if you want to admire flowerbeds adorned with more than a million flowers in the park of a castle, I have the place for you: the Floralia exhibition at the Castle of Grand-Bigard (Dilbeek), 30 minutes west of Brussels! You can walk among 400 varieties of tulips, but also hyacinths and daffodils.
SUMMARY
The largest flower show in Belgium
The conception and realization of this exhibition
Did you know...? About the tulip
The location of the exhibition: the Castle of Grand-Bigard
Practical information
1. The largest flower show in Belgium
The year 2023 marks the 20th edition of this flower show, which is the biggest in Belgium. I had the chance to go there in 2021 (when the mask was still mandatory) and I really enjoyed the experience of being able to walk around the castle park at your own pace. It is always amazing to see how diverse, surprising and sublime nature can be. Depending on the stage of flowering, the park is different every week. Finally, it is remarkable to realize the work of the castle's gardeners to plant more than a million bulbs by hand.
One of the highlights of the visit is the big greenhouse where you can see large bouquets designed by floral artists and renewed every week. It is also worth noting that Floralia will host its own Venetian parade among the flowers, but the exact date is not yet known.
2. The conception and realization of this exhibition
The design and realization of this huge Floralia exhibition is entrusted to JUB Holland, the largest Dutch producer and exporter of flower bulbs. It is currently the fourth generation of this family of bulb growers in Holland. The JUB Holland teams travel throughout the Netherlands every year in search of the most beautiful and interesting flower varieties for the exhibition. Then the different gardens are composed taking into account the diversity of colors and the time of flowering of the various flower varieties.
Moreover, a store at the entrance of the castle offers a large choice of plants and mainly summer bulbs (dahlias, begonias, gladioli, lilies, etc.).
3. Did you know...? About the tulip
Did you know that the word tulip comes from the word tülbent, the turban worn by the Turks? Contrary to what one might think, the tulip does not originate from Holland, but from Asia Minor. Discovered by a Flemish diplomat, it was imported into the Netherlands at the end of the 16th century. It was so successful that speculation on its value led to the first speculative bubble in history, called "tulip mania".
4. The location of the exhibition: the Castle of Grand-Bigard
Concerning the place hosting the exhibition, the Castle of Grand-Bigard, it is a private family property owned by the couple of squires Xavier and Nicole Pelgrims de Bigard and whose 14 hectares park is open only on the occasion of this floral exhibition (even if the castle can be rented for private events or company seminars).
In a few words, this castle, classified as a historical monument, was built in the 12th century and completed in the 17th century. It is a treasure of the Flemish Renaissance with a 30 meter high keep, a chapel, a beautiful lake and a drawbridge over the moat. At the beginning of the 20th century, some parts of the castle were in very bad condition and the owner decided to undertake works, which lasted 30 years.
During the Floralia exhibition, the gardens, the greenhouse, the keep and the chapel are accessible.
5. Practical information
From a practical point of view, the Floralia exhibition will take place from April 1 to May 4, 2023, from 10am to 6pm (ticket office closes at 5:30pm).
Admission costs 16 euros for adults and 5 euros for children aged 6 to 14. It is possible to reserve tickets online or to buy them directly on the spot, without prior reservation. There is also a 25-euro subscription for the whole season if you want to come back and observe the different stages of flowering.
Picnicking is forbidden, but a cafeteria is available in the greenhouse (snacks and drinks).
Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on a leash!
Finally, concerning the access by car, a parking lot is available, but you have to pay (5 euros per car, e-ticket to buy in advance online).
=> I hope this article has helped you in the preparation of your visit and, if you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate, I'll be happy to get back to you!
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