Groot Bijgaarden Castle tulip festival – photo diary
I must admit that the main reason I spent one day in Brussels was to head to Amsterdam and look for tulip tours in Northern Holland. However, while frenetically looking for tulips in Belgium, I stumbled upon the Groot Bijgaarden Castle Tulip Festival.
There was enough time to see the Groot Bijgaarden Castle, spend one day in Bruges, and head for the Netherlands.
Because there’s one thing I love most in this world: flower blooms and fields!
And the next one is, of course, castles!
Mix the two, and you will get a dream destination for a day trip from Brussels.
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Groot Bijgaarden Castle Tulip Festival
I don’t remember exactly how I learned about the Brussels Floralia festival.
But after visiting the Euroflora festival in Genoa, I knew this activity was perfect for me, and it was in one of the most beautiful places in Belgium! And it was something my mother would also love.
This is the perfect way to spend your Sunday. It was both relaxing and fun. The park around the castle is stupendous, especially with the hundreds of colorful flowers all around.
Groot Bijgaarden Castle facts
One thing I’ve learned about that part of Europe is that it has plenty of castles I could spend months exploring and taking pictures of.
Yes, fairytale castles aren’t only in Germany or France. Belgium and the Netherlands also have plenty to see. And the Groot Bijgaarden is one of them, located less than one hour outside Brussels.
Surrounded by a deep-water moat, the castle made me think about the stories with princesses my mother used to read when I was a kid. The castle dates from the 12th century and has been ever since modified throughout the years.
Today, the castle is used for all kinds of events and can be rented out by whoever wants to create a memorable memory here. It is also the place to visit when you want to see hundreds of tulips in Belgium. However, we couldn’t visit the interior of the building when we went to the Brussels Flower Festival.
What I love most is the 14-hectare park where Floralia occurs every year.
When is the Brussels Flower Festival?
Every year, from April to the beginning of May, the flowers are in full bloom.
Check the schedule before you plan your vacation. It might change slightly from year to year, especially with the ongoing climate change.
Opening hours during the Brussels Tulip Festival were from 10:00 to 18:00, and the admission fee was 14 EUR for adults and 5 EUR for children between 6 and 14 years old. However, check the official website before going because the fees might change.
How to get to Groot Bijgaarden Castle tulip festival
By Bus
I must admit we had some issues getting to the castle. But I’ll share all the information you need to plan your trip better and make the most of the available time.
The first thing you must know is that the line to Groot Bijgaarden is not the common one in Brussels; it is operated by De Lijn.
That means you won’t have to buy tickets from the metro station or anywhere you would typically go. After spending money on that kind of ticket, we had to buy other tickets from the bus. Thus, take your tickets directly on the bus.
From Brussels-South Station, take the bus no. 136, or from Brussels-North Station, take the bus no. 355 and get off at Groot-Bijgaarden.
Even though we took the no 355 bus from Rogier, we discovered road works in progress, so the bus had a detour. The driver was amiable and helped us with the information we needed to walk to the castle.
That’s how we ended up walking in the small and perfectly arranged villages outside of Brussels.
By Train
You can also get there by train and take Brusselstraat until Gemeenteplein.
By Car
Here is the exact address if you want to drive there: Isidoor Van Beverenstraat 5, 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden.
What’s special about the Brussels tulip festival
Apart from the fact that even though we visited on a weekend day, the place wasn’t as crowded as I would expect Keukenhof Garden to be, there are certain special days you want to be there.
And I’m talking here about the Parade of the Venetian Costumes! We were lucky to visit on a Sunday, catch the parade, and see the stunning costumes.
The dates for 2020:
– Saturday 18 April 2020: 14:30
– Sunday 19 April 2020: 10:30 and 14:30
How was our experience at Groot Bijgaarden Castle tulip festival
Once I saw the beautiful and impressive gate over the moat, I knew the visit would be worth it.
The castle and its garden are unique, and right as we stepped inside, we found a small flower market. Unfortunately, we had no space in our luggage, but you should go prepared and buy some lovely flower bulbs or flowers to bring back home.
Once the Venetian Parade was over, we wandered around the huge garden and took hundreds of pictures of the many colorful and fragrant flowers.
No matter how many people were around, there were empty corners where we could stay and relax.
Another pleasant surprise was the covered greenhouses, where we admired many other types of beautiful flower arrangements.
The cantina set up in the garden’s center made it easy for visitors to spend the whole day in nature.
We enjoyed coffee, took pictures with the people dressed in Venetian costumes, and returned to Brussels.
When you visit Brussels during spring, attend the Groot Bijgaarden Castle Tulip Festival. You won’t be disappointed!
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I’ve never heard of this festival but now I want to go. It looks so pretty!
This looks stunning! Good to have alternative tulip viewing spots that are less touristed.