Royal Greenhouses Laeken
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The Royal Greenhouses, located in Laeken, Brussels, are a magnificent greenhouse complex that has been a source of fascination for visitors from all over the world. Here are practical tips to plan your visit with the family, including kid-friendly restaurants and more family activities nearby.
2025 Dates:
18 April – 11 May
*There are no more tickets for 2025.
History
The Castle of Schonberg was built on the initiative of the Austrian Archdukes and Governors-General of the Netherlands, Maria-Christina of Austria and Albrecht of Saxony-Teschen, designed by French architect Charles de Wailly and executed by architect-contractor Louis Montoyer between 1781 and 1785.
The castle gardens were designed in accordance with the instructions of well-known English landscape designer Lancelot (Capability) Brown
Designed in 1873 for King Leopold II by Alphonse Balat, the glass palace is open to the public once a year in spring for three weeks
The Greenhouses
The following greenhouses are open to the public:
*the Embarcadère Greenhouse, the reception area for guests in the past
*the square Congo Greenhouse with subtropical plants
*the domed Winter Garden with palm trees and tree ferns, among other things
*the Orangery, the overwintering location for the orange, laurel, and camellia plants which are now arranged on the esplanade in front of the Orangery
The Winter Garden
Among the various sections of the greenhouses, one that stands out is the Winter Garden. Its grand size allowed for tall palm trees, and it is a popular venue for royal receptions with its high ceilings and lush greenery.
The Pier
Another interesting feature of the Royal Greenhouses is the Pier, which was designed to receive guests. It is home to medinillas from the Philippines. These exotic plants are known for their pink and purple colors.
The Ponds
You pass by temple ruins at the edge of one of the ponds.
Fun fact: Some of the plants belonging to King Leopold II’s original collections still exist.
Practical Stuff
*Cost: EUR 5 for 12+ year olds
*You can book tickets here
*You can buy bottles of water and soft drinks at the end of the walk, also a shop with a few items to buy
*Stroller not-so-unfriendly 🙂 There are about 15 steps, but if you can carry the stroller up the steps, then you get to use the stroller for the rest of the walk!
*Dogs are not allowed
*Parking is available opposite the entrance. Plan ahead for a bit of extra time in case the parking is full and they close it, you might need to park elsewhere
*Picnic is not allowed during the visit
Address
About 15 minutes drive from Schuman, Brussels (about 40 minutes by public transport)
You can park here (limited places, plan ahead for extra time in case the parking is full)
Avenue de la Dynastie, 1020 Bruxelles
https://goo.gl/maps/WRSAogzV3ocL3idJ6
And then you walk just to the opposite side of the street to enter:
Royal Greenhouses
Avenue du Parc Royal 61, 1020 Bruxelles
https://goo.gl/maps/QpbJXfYGHWuF2TX49
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World Wild Schooling – BENELUX (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg)
Kid-Friendly Restaurants Nearby
At Laerbeek, there is a brasserie with a terrace and a small playground next to it. There is also a much bigger playground near the brasserie and a forest to walk around
You can find a great pop-up summer bar nearby, Guinguette Andre, that serves drinks and burgers. The exact location is here
There is a small park nearby where the Museum of Far East is located (the museum is closed) and you could have a picnic there on the grass. The exact location is here
Nearby
Meise Botanical Garden
Also, there is a great terrace (paid entrance) at the Meise Botanic Garden – there is also a barefoot path and a pullable platform in the lake by the castle!
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Laerbeek
At Laerbeek, there is a great playground there and a terrasse with a smaller playground next to it, also forest to walk around
Drie Fonteinen
Drie Fonteinen, a domain with a nice playground and a brasserie with a terrasse near the playground. It is perdect for a stroller friendly walk or kids cycling. Also ideal for picnic!
Ferme Nos Pilifs
You can also combine it with Ferme Nos Pilifs, there is also a terrasse there, a small sandpit and farm animals
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World Wild Schooling – BENELUX (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg)
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