This year the Royal Greenhouses in Laeken open their doors from 15 April to 8 May 2022. Like 2021 the smaller, elongated greenhouses can be visited. During the day visitors can choose between a long route (2,5 hours) or a short route (1,5 hours). The long route starts with a walk through the gardens of the Royal Domain. This way, the visitor first discovers the wonderful architecture of the greenhouses from a distance. On the way, the public will pass temple ruins on the edge of one of the ponds and the circular rose garden.
After the walk through the gardens, the long route joins the short route towards the greenhouses. The visit to the greenhouse complex starts at the Palmenplateau with the Débarcadère, the Palm Greenhouse, the Azalea Greenhouse, the Geranium Gallery, the Dianas Greenhouse and the Mirror Greenhouse. Afterwards, visitors walk towards the large greenhouses: the Perronserre or Embarcadère, the Congoserre with subtropical plants, the domed Winter Garden with, among others, palm trees and tree ferns, and the Orangery in which orange and laurel trees and camellias overwinter.
Due to great success, there will be nocturnes again on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings and on Easter Monday, 18 April. During the nocturnes, the long trail through the gardens is not accessible. On Thursday 28 April, there will be support for persons with reduced mobility with an adapted route (2 hours) and guidance at the critical points of the route.
Reservations can be made from now on at http://www.koninklijke-serres-royales.be/. Tickets can’t be purchased at Laeken itself. They cost 4 Euros, while children under 12 have free access.
I visited a few years ago and can tell you it is more than worth the visit. I hope they continue with the long route, as I would love to do that one year.