Brussels Flower Carpet
On our first day in Brussels we got a tour to get to know the city. Luckily we are in Brussels on the weekend of the flower carpet. This only happens every two years for a few days at a time. The central plaza (Grand Place) is filled with flowers enough to make a full carpet. A pretty cool sight to see in the middle of a large European city.
This year it goes from August 14 – 19 and the theme is Africa.
Whole Carpet
Our tour guide told us that all of the flowers for the event come from Ghent. A town I had not really heard much of until just a fe days ago from our new friend Gigi. So yeah, tons of flowers patterned across the main square in Brussels. The best place to see it was from above, on the terraces of the City Hall. Really amazing.
Close Up
One of the benefits of being up above the plaza is getting to see over the heads of all of the people. So I pulled out my zoom lens and went to town. Here are some close up shots of the carpet in different places. This is my first one, so I can’t compare it to any of the others, but it was cool to see. I still don’t quite get how the flowers don’t wilt in the direct sun. The patterns are amazing, especially from this angle.
Low Angle
As we were walking out of the square toward our next destination, I saw an opening in the fence and took it. I love the low angle pictures, so this is pretty special to me.
A great Iconic View of the Carpet
So this is my iconic view that will stick in my mind of the event. The spiky Brussels architecture against the view of the carpet.
We are in Brussels as the guests of the Belgien Tourismus. Of course all pictures, opinions and comments are my own.
January 28, 2014 @ 7:41 am
I remember Venice in February 2011 – end of Carnivale- sleeting, snowy, fogging, romantic….your photos bring back those memories. Delightful!
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September 7, 2012 @ 8:01 am
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September 4, 2012 @ 8:11 am
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August 28, 2012 @ 8:02 am
[…] While we were in Brussels, we went through the City Hall to a balcony to get a good view of the flower carpet from above. The City Hall building is a magnificent building all gothic spiky and just covered in […]
August 18, 2012 @ 9:10 pm
That is really impressive! Not only to make something that big but to think that it is all flowers?!
August 21, 2012 @ 11:53 pm
I find it more impressive that the flowers manage to stay brilliant for several days. It was withering hot this year.
August 18, 2012 @ 3:28 pm
Beautiful! I had no idea Brussels (which is a fantastic city, by the way) did this. Reminds me of the infiorata in Italy! Are these actual flowers or just petals?
August 21, 2012 @ 11:52 pm
We really quite enjoyed our few days in Brussels. More stuff about it coming up as well. The flower carpet is only every 2 years for a few days at a time, so it is easy to see why you could overlook that they do it. Yes, they are full flowers.
August 18, 2012 @ 8:57 am
OMG, i love this. awesome flowers and inspiring. You captured the flower carpets very well. 🙂
August 21, 2012 @ 11:51 pm
Thanks. Good subject to photograph. We had a great vantage point too.