Tulip show attracts foreign tourists to Groot Bijgaarden, Brussels-border Flemish town

Tourists and residents in Belgium finally have the chance to celebrate Spring without Covid-19 protective masks, seeing (and sniffing) more than one million tulip bulbs in the castle of Groot Bijgaarden, a Flemish town about 10 km from Brussels. 

The flower exhibition started on April 2 and finishes next May 3. Besides tulips, the castle's 14-hectare park includes varieties of daffodils and ​ hyacinths. This year, the festival also displays animal green sculptures, a hit among kids.

“This is the 19th edition, so we always expect a lot of visitors. If the weather is good, it’s really beautiful and I think all the visitors will highly appreciate the visit of this natural show”, said Groot Bijgaarden castle owner, Xavier Pelgrims, to Belga. 

One language: nature 

For Mr. Pelgrims, each Spring means reborning, brings a new life opportunity, specially at a period when “there are so many problems in the world”. “Here we see people from all over the world, speaking different languages, enjoying the beauty of nature the same way,” he declares. 

Mr. Pelgrims also considers the exhibition unifies the regions in Belgium. “We are in the middle of the country. There is no difference among people from Flanders, from Wallonia, from Brussels, or from abroad. Because nature has only one language, which is: beauty, spirit and hope," he adds. ​ 

More local tourists 

The castle owner reveals that there are more visitors from Belgium coming to the tulip festival this year. 

“Travelling is not like in the past, although it will probably come back. But eventually for us, it is positive. Many Belgians are now visiting local events,” said Mr. Pelgrims. “We hear a lot of different languages in the park, but most of them are foreigners living in Belgium, and less coming from abroad,” he told Belga. 

No masks 

A Belgian-Polish visitor called Alice highlighted that the Floralia Festival is as good as the Dutch festival in Keukenhof. “It’s almost like being in the Netherlands with all the tulips fields. It’s very nice,” she said. 

The South Korean tourist and United Kingdom resident, Jungpill Her, found the flower festival through the internet. “This is our first time visiting Belgium and I will spread the word to my friends in London,” Jungpill told Belga. “We stay for two days and this place is perfect for my family trip. Besides, it is a good place to celebrate Spring after covid, without masks,” he concluded. 

The castle’s park is open everyday from 10 am to 6 pm. Last entrance at 5.30 pm. Adult tickets range from 13 to 15 euros. Teenagers up to 14 years-old pay 5 euros, while children up to 6 years-old have free entrance. There is a season ticket of 25 euros for those who would like to visit the exhibition more than once. 

Animal green sculptures are a hit among parents and kids at Floralia exhibition in Groot-Bijgaarden this year.

© Belga Photo (Viviane Vaz)