Each year, in the spring, the Royal Greenhouses in the park of the Royal Palace of Laeken, in the northern part of Brussels, Belgium, open its doors to the public, during three weeks. This tradition has been carried on for a century. In 2025 the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken are open from Friday 18 April until Sunday 11 May (closed on Mondays).
This year visitors can choose between a long (3 kilometres) or short (2 kilometres) route. The long route starts with a walk through the gardens of the Royal Domain and then connects to the short route towards the greenhouses.
Tickets have gone on sale on Thursday 20 March 2025 at 1pm at www.koninklijke-serres-royales.be for 7 euros per ticket. Children under 12 years old have free admission, tickets however should be reserved in advance. It is not possible to buy or book tickets on site.
There are extra opening times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, on Monday 21 April and Thursday 1 May. During the evenings, however, visitors can only take the shorter route. On Tuesday 6 May support is provided for people with reduced mobility. There will be an adapted route (2 kilometres) and guidance at the critical points of the route.
There is a shop with books, postcards, gadgets and plants, as well as a tearoom with hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and cake.
Entrance and exit is via the gates of honour of the Castle of Laeken, Royal Parklaan, 1020 Brussels. To plan your trip by public transport either use the website STIB-MIVB or De Lijn. Parking near the castle is very limited.
The greenhouses
The greenhouses were designed in a classical style by architect Alphonse Balat for King Leopold II of the Belgians in 1873. It was not until 1905 that the complex was finished. They can be found next to the Royal Palace of Laeken in Brussels. The monumental glass pavilions with arcades of glass and iron are full of rare and valuable exotic plants. Some of the plants belonging to King Leopold II’s original collections still exist. The Royal Botanic Collection includes camellias, orange trees, plants from former African colonies of Belgium.
The huge Winter Garden was built between 1874 and 1876 and was the first greenhouse at Laeken to be completed. Inside one can find palm trees, dating from the time of Leopold II. Occasionally the greenhouse is used for royal receptions, state visits and even exhibitions. Afterwards followed the Palm Greenhouse, the Congo Greenhouse and the Diana Greenhouse, that were designed between 1885 and 1887.
The Pier Greenhouse (Embarcadère) was built in 1886-1887 and intended to receive guests when the King was holding court in the Winter Garden or the Dining Room Greenhouse. A staircase leads to the Winter Garden. Medinillas, that were brought back by King Leopold II from the Far East, when still being the heir to the throne, can be seen in Chinese vases. Also the statues Dawn and Evening by Charles Van der Stappen are on display. In 1893 the Chapel Greenhouse was added.
I visited myself in April 2016. The photos can be found here.
