Frequently asked questions
What are the opening dates and hours?
- The Royal Greenhouses will be open from 15 April to 8 May 2022.
- You are required to reserve a time slot, during which you will visit the greenhouses, in advance. Book your time slot here.
- There are nocturnes every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (and on Easter Monday, 18 April).
- On Thursday, 28 April, we will make the stairs along the route accessible for wheelchair users.
- Gates close at 3 p.m. during the day (4 p.m. on Wednesdays) and 9:30 p.m. during nocturnes. Visitors will still be able to leave the domain but will not be able to (re-)enter it.
- Latecomers will not be admitted at the gates.
How can I book a ticket?
- Book your visit here. Online booking is required. Tickets are not for sale on-site, nor can reservations be made.
- Choose a day and time slot for your arrival. We can only permit a limited number of visitors each day.
- Arrive on time because latecomers will not be admitted.
- You can book for a maximum of ten visitors at a time (including children).
- The purchase of tickets is final after payment. It is not possible to change the selected time or request a refund.
- We do not work with waiting lists.
- There are no guided tours of the Greenhouses.
How much does a ticket cost?
- A ticket costs €4 (for visitors 12 years and older)
- Children under 12 may enter free of charge, but you must reserve their visit in advance.
- Book your visit here. (hier moet link achter naar reservatiegedeelte op site)
- Tickets are not for sale on-site, nor can reservations be made.
- The purchase of tickets is final after payment. It is not possible to change the selected time or request a refund. In exceptional cases, if you cannot come due to illness or an unexpected event, you can transfer your tickets to another person as long as they are in the same category (adult or child). Please report this to the ticket office at the entrance.
- We do not work with waiting lists.
How many tickets can I book in one go?
Why will I only be sent one entry ticket?
Bus drivers can pick up and drop off passengers at the Dynastie car park. They will then have to find a parking space for the bus in another place nearby
Can I change or cancel my tickets?
In exceptional cases, if you cannot come due to illness or an unexpected event, you can transfer your tickets to another person as long as they are in the same category (adult or child). Please report this to the ticket office at the entrance.
What exactly will I be able to see?
- A visit to the greenhouses is both an indoor and outdoor experience. Once on-site, you will be able to choose between a short (1.5 hours) or long (2.5 hours) visit.
- On the long visit (2.5 hours), you will first take a walk through the garden of the Royal Domain. You will first discover the wonderful architecture of the greenhouses from a distance and then tour the greenhouses.
- On the short walk (1.5 hours), you will only tour the greenhouses.
- The greenhouses were designed by architect Alphonse Balat, who was Victor Horta’s tutor. In 1873, he designed a greenhouse complex that complemented the castle in Laeken. The greenhouses were designed to offer the silhouette of a glass city, nestled into an undulating park landscape.
- Along the route through the gardens, you will discover unusual architectural elements, such as the temple ruins at the edge of one of the ponds.
- The second part of the route takes you first to the small and then to the large greenhouses:
- the Palm Plateau with the Débarcadère, the Palm Greenhouse, the Azalea Greenhouse, the Geranium Gallery, the Diana Greenhouse and the Mirror Greenhouse
- the Embarcadère, which was 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 others
- the Orangery, the overwintering location for the orange trees, laurel trees and camellias which are now arranged on the esplanade in front of the Orangery
- If you visit the Greenhouses during the nocturnes, you will be able to enjoy the shorter route. The longer route is not accessible.
- At the end of the walk, there is a shop with books and guides about the greenhouses, postcards, gadgets, and a tearoom with hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, and cake.
- Download a map of the route here.
I did not receive a confirmation email with my ticket(s). What should I do?
- Check your junk mail or spam folder.
- Make sure you have entered the correct email address.
- Check whether the payment has actually been deducted from your account.
Can I park my car nearby?
- There is a car park with a limited number of spaces (parking Dynastie) opposite the entrance to the Royal Domain.
- Please note that many people will be looking for a parking space and the traffic on the road can be very busy. Make sure you leave enough time to find a space, or come by taxi, public transport, or bike, so that you do not miss your time slot.
- Bus drivers can pick up and drop off passengers at the Dynastie car park. They will then have to find a parking space for the bus in another place nearby.
How do I get to the Greenhouses by public transport?
- Metro: Heysel stop (line 6) – walking distance: 27 min
- Tram: De Wand stop (lines 3, 7) – walking distance: 11 min
- Bus: MIVB/STIB (line 53) – Serres Royales stop – walking distance: < 1 min
- Bus: De Lijn (lines 230, 231, 232) – Koninklijke Serres stop – walking distance: < 1 min
- Train: Bockstael stop – walking distance: 18 min
Is there a place to park my bicycle?
How long is the route?
- A visit to the greenhouses is both an indoor and outdoor experience. Once on-site, you will be able to choose between a short (1.5 hours) or long (2.5 hours) visit.
- On the long visit (2.5 hours), you will first take a walk through the garden. You will first discover the wonderful architecture of the greenhouses from a distance and then tour the greenhouses.
- On the short walk (1.5 hours), you will only tour the greenhouses.
- You can only participate in the short (1.5 hour) visit during the nocturnes. The long route is not accessible.
- The route includes steps and inclines and is not suitable for wheelchairs or prams. However, on Thursday, 28 April, there will be support for wheelchair users with an adapted route and assistance at the critical points. We ask visitors who need support to indicate this when making their online reservation.
- There are four sanitary stops along the route.
- There are several benches or resting places provided along the route.
- At the end of the walk, there is a shop with books and guides about the greenhouses, postcards, gadgets, and a tearoom with hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, and cake.
- Download a map of the route here.
What measures are you taking to combat the spread of the coronavirus?
May I take photos in the greenhouses
Are dogs allowed?
Can you follow the route with a wheelchair?
- The route includes steps and inclines and is not suitable for wheelchairs, but there will be support for wheelchair users on Thursday, 28 April, with an adapted route and assistance at the critical points.
- We ask visitors who need support to indicate this when making their online reservation. We recommend that you bring along someone to accompany you on your visit so that they can help at the non-critical points if necessary.
- There are no wheelchairs available or for hire on site.
- Download a map of the route here.