Millions of tourists flock to the Netherlands each spring to take in the beauty of the tulips fields. Most have no idea that further south, Belgium is a garden lover’s paradise.
The following list contains 10 of my favourite spring garden and nature destinations in Belgium. Some, I have written about before, in depth, and I have linked back to those earlier articles. Others, I have kept to myself until now. I hope you find one that inspires you to enjoy Belgium’s natural beauty.
Vredehof Tulip Garden
Vredehof Tulip Garden
While definitely not as large as the Keukenhof Bulb Gardens in Lisse, The Netherlands, The Vredehof is no less special. This garden, in Kessel, was started by one man, Fernand Geyselings, when he retired in 1987, as a tribute to his late wife. Geyselings planted over 200,000 different bulbs, by himself. There are 200 different varieties of tulip and 185 other spring blooms, from daffodils to hyacinths. There are also a number of flowering trees and garden decorations.
Address: Torenvenstraat 28, Kessel
Groot-Bijgaarden
Groot-Bijgaarden Castle and Gardens
The Groot-Bijgaarden is another must-see for tulip and spring bulb lovers. The grounds of this castle are open to the public for a month in the spring. As well as the stunning castle grounds, there are also indoor displays by local growers. For more information visit my photography blog to read about my visit to Groot-Bijgaarden, last spring and check out the Groot-Bijgaarden photo gallery. The Garden is open this year from from 8 April until 6 May.
Address: Is. Van Beverenstraat, 5 – 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden
Japanese Garden, Hasselt
The Japanese Garden of Hasselt
Although you wouldn’t expect it, the largest Japanese Garden in Europe is in Belgium. The Japanese Garden of Hasselt is magical in the spring as its 250 cherry trees burst into bloom. The garden is based on 17th Japanese Garden architecture and was constructed with the help of Hasset’s sister city in Japan, Itami. For more information read the CheeseWeb post on my visit to the Japanese Garden.
Address: Gouverneur Verwilghensingel – 3500 Hasselt
Cherry Blossoms
Cherry Blossoms in Brussels
If you can’t make it all the way to Hasselt to admire the Japanese Gardens, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms right here in Brussels. Although there are cherry trees in bloom at various locations around the city centre, one of the best places to view them is in Park Leopold, near the European Parliament. There are various spring blooms in this little park, which is also a hop skip and jump from the larger Parc du Cinquantenaire which is also in full bloom in the spring.
Address: Park Leopold, 1040 Brussels (ETTERBEEK)
Belgian Royal Greenhouses
Royal Greenhouse at Laeken
One of the most anticipated spring garden events in Brussels is the opening of the Royal Greenhouses at the Palace in Laeken Belgium. The palace is the main residence of the Belgian Royal family and their private grounds are only open to the public for several weeks in the spring. The Greenhouse complex was built between 1874 and 1895 and is 2.5 hectares. The plant collection includes giant palms and ferns from Africa, azaleas, geraniums, orchids and bleeding hearts among many others. For photos and information please visit my Royal Greenhouse gallery.
Address: Domaine Royal de Laeken , Avenue du Parc Royal, Brussels
National Botanic Garden of Belgium
National Botanic Garden of Belgium
The National Botanic Garden of Belgium is located just outside of Brussels in the town of Meise. The garden is 92 hectares and holds 18,000 varieties of plants from magnolias and rhododendrons to medicinal plants and wild roses. There is also a large glass house with tropical and dessert plants, a traditional farm house and garden and a garden shop. At the centre of the Botanic Garden sits Bouchout Castle which is often open to the public and is available for receptions.
Address: Domein van Bouchout, Nieuwelaan 38, Meise
Grand Béguinage, Leuven
The Grand Béguinage of Leuven
The Grand Béguinage (Groot Begijnhof van Leuven in Dutch) is not specifically a garden destination; however it is a quiet oasis in the centre of the Flemish city of Leuven. The Béguinage is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It dates from the 13th century and was a refuge for unmarried semi-religious women. These days the Béguinage is owned by the university and houses visiting students and professors. You can wander through the quiet cobbled streets and admire the small gardens and climbing roses that decorate the living quarters.
Address: Schapenstraat, Leuven
Hallerbos, The Blue Forest
Hallerbos
Hallerbos is a beech forest near the town of Halle. Throughout the year it is a haven for walkers, cyclists and horseback riders. In spring however, the forest acquires a magical carpet of blue, created by millions of Bluebell flowers covering the forest floor. For more information and photos visit my article on Hallerbos – Belgium’s Blue Forest.
Address: Near Halle in Flemish Brabant
Villers Abbey Medicinal Garden
Villers Abbey
Belgium is famous for its many Abbeys (where do you think all of that wonderful beer comes from?). Because the monks were often the area’s physicians, many of them had medicinal gardens. One great example can be seen at the Villers Abbey (abbaye de Villers) in Wallonia. In addition to the garden there is a working vineyard as well as the ruins of the Abbey which are stunning to wander through.
Address: Rue de l’Abbaye, 55, B-1495 Villers-la-Ville
Belgian Fields as seen from the Ronquières inclined plane
Ronquières Inclined Plane Boat Lift
I admit that a boat lift may seem like an odd choice for a post on gardens and nature. You can’t however discuss gardens in Belgium without a nod to the country’s agricultural heritage. Farming remains a mainstay in this country and what better place to admire the fields of Belgium than 70 metres in the air. The observation deck at the boat lift offers panoramic view of the countryside as well as the Brussels-Charleroi canal.
Address: Ronquières, 7090 Braine-le-Comte
If you have any other must-see spring garden or nature sites in Belgium, leave them in the comments below.
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10 comments
Inese says:
Feb 22, 2010
Thank you for the great ideas! Some places I’ve laready seen but there were several which I wrote down and will make my boyfriend take me there. As we both ar into photography I think he’ll appreciate it as well.
Cheers!
Alison says:
Feb 22, 2010
Great! I’m glad this helped. I’ll be adding more Belgian sights besides gardens in the future so stay tuned!
Louise says:
Feb 24, 2010
Oh, what a wonderful post. I almost forgot that we are still having winter. I want spring and flowers now!! Can’t I come with you on a flower trip once? I think it will make so much more sense than to go with my husband who barely sees the flowers I put on the table in front of him
Alison says:
Feb 24, 2010
You can absolutely come with me! As long as you don’t mind waiting for ages while I photograph everything. It can get rather boring. I just got a book called Gardens of The Netherlands and Belgium and I have marked tons of places I want to go. If you’re up for it let me know!
Mirka says:
Feb 24, 2010
Nice post, I did not know about the gardens in Vredehof, I have to check that out. Well, if I manage timewise, as always. Where did you buy the book you mention? That might be good investment
Alison says:
Feb 25, 2010
I sent you an email but I got the book from Amzaon.co.uk It’s listed in my bookstore which you can find here: http://cheeseweb.eu/store/store-travel-guides/
Lydia says:
Mar 1, 2010
Thank-you for this post. We visited the Groot-Bijgaarden last year and it was beautiful. I am adding these places to my calendar.
Alison says:
Mar 1, 2010
Glad you found it helpful! I have a batch of new ones on my schedule for this year so hopefully I’ll have some more you can add to your list
Yannick says:
Jun 4, 2011
I would recommend the agricultural region called Pajottenland in the south-west of brussels (25 min. from the center of Brussels). Its gently rolling hills (the Pajottenland is sometimes called the ‘Tuscany of the low countries’!) make it fun to explode by bike. The pajottenland offers some stunning landscapes, lovely little villages and midieval castles. You should really check out the beautiful gaasbeek castle. The castle and its huge park (50 hectares or 124 acres) are open to the public. The midieval church and marketplace are also worth visiting. Gaasbeek is a village in the municipality of Lennik, and in 2007 it was chosen as one of the 15 most beautiful villages in Flanders! I live near the Coloma park in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (which you have already visited
)and on a sunny day I just love to go biking in the nearby Pajottenland.
P.S. I have noticed that you’re a good photographer, and since you live near Brussels I can recommend the Laeken cemetry (the ‘Père Lachaise’ of Brussels) to you. It sounds a bit macabre (and it is :p), but the atmosphere is very special and you can take some great pictures over there!
Alison says:
Jun 4, 2011
Great tips Yannick. Thanks so much! We’ve had Gaasbeek castle on our ‘to do’ list for some time now so I think we’ll have to get there soon. There are just so many beautiful places to explore!