The story of the Brussels Flower carpet
Officially, the first flower carpet was born in 1971 on the Grand-Place. It was the work of the landscape architect E. Stautemans, who was inspired by other carpets created in diverse Flemish cities. The peculiarity of the Brussels Flower carpet is of course its place on the Grand-Place.
The manufacturing of the carpet
Flower Carpet 2008 (click to zoom) This carpet of 77 m X 24 m is realized in several stages. It is planned one year in advance. Projects with scale reproductions are elaborated on the basis of the subject. The number of flowers and the combinations of colors are then determined.
The life-size drawing of the carpet is put on a transparent and micro-drilled plastic sheet. The carpet then has to be made by approximately 120 volunteers who install near a million begonias (at the rate of 300 by m3) within 4 hours.
A carpet during a weekend
The Flower carpet is installed only for 1 weekend (Assumption Day). The access to the Grand-Place is free. A panoramic visit (with access to the City Hall) can also be made.