The Flower Carpet on the Grand-Place

What it is

The Grand-Place is the old market square of Brussels, enclosed by guild houses and the Gothic town hall. Since 1971 a carpet of flowers has been laid over its cobbles, and it now appears every two years, in even-numbered years, for a few days around 15 August. The design changes each time. Volunteers place hundreds of thousands of cut begonia flowers by hand in a few hours, packing them so tightly that they hold each other in place. Belgium, and the area around Ghent in particular, is a major grower of begonia tubers. Dahlias and other materials are sometimes added.

Before you go

• It only happens in even years. Check the year before planning a trip around it.
• See it from the square in daylight, then come back after dark when it is lit.
• The town hall balcony gives the view from above, with a queue to match.

The flowers you will see

BegoniaA vast group of colourful, shade-loving flowering plants from warm climatesDahliaA bushy perennial with tuberous roots and bright, star-shaped blooms

Read more

Flower Carpet of BrusselsA giant floral tapestry on Brussels’ Grand-Place every two years

More in Belgium

🇧🇪 Halle · AprilThe blue forest of HallerbosA beech forest south of Brussels whose floor turns violet blue with wild bluebells for about two weeks in April.