The annual public opening of the Royal Greenhouses in the Brussels district of Laken will take place from 17 April to 10 May. On Friday (20 March) tickets to visit the greenhouses went on sale. This year, the famous Winter Garden that is the largest of the greenhouses will not be open to the public due to restoration work. However, this year the Grand Gallery of Honour at Laken Castle will be open to the public for the first time.
Visitors to the greenhouses can choose a short or long trail. The short 2km trail only takes in the greenhouses themselves, while the longer 3km trail also passes by the Royal Gardens and starts in the Grand Gallery of Honour. This is the Laken Castle’s largest hall, where state banquets take place. The Winter Garden is closed for renovation work that will continue for at least another 2 years.
There are also evening openings following the short trail and take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Ticket sales go under way on Friday 20 March at 13:00 via the Royal Greenhouses website.
Entry costs 7 euro for adults. Children up to 12 years old can visit the greenhouses for free but reservation is mandatory.
Laken Castle is located in the north of Brussels. It is the official residence of the King and Queen. In 1873 the architect Alphonse Balat began work on designing a greenhouse complex to complement the palace's classical style. The greenhouses were designed to offer the silhouette of a glass city in the undulating landscape of the Royal Estate. The greenhouses are normally private. However, each spring the greenhouses are opened to the public for a few weeks.
This year the Royal Greenhouses have joined forces with the Belgian rail company NMBS to offer visitors travelling to Laken by train cut price rail tickets. When booking their tickets to visit the greenhouses visitors will receive a code entitling then to a 40% discount on a rail ticket from the station of their choice to and from either Brussels-North or Bockstael railway station.