Flower Carpet (Brussels)

The Flower Carpet (French: Tapis de Fleurs; Dutch: Bloementapijt) is a biennial event in Brussels in which volunteers from around Belgium convene at the Grand-Place/Grote Markt, the historic centre of the city, to weave a carpet-like tapestry out of colourful begonias or dahlias. The event takes place every other August, coordinating with Assumption Day, and lasts for three to four days. A different theme is chosen for each edition.
The first Flower Carpet was created in Brussels in 1971 by the Ghent landscape architect Etienne Stautemans in an effort to advertise his work, and due to its popularity, the tradition continued in subsequent years. The non-profit association Tapis de Fleurs de Bruxelles was then created at the initiative of the College of Mayors and Aldermen of the City of Brussels in cooperation with the Province of Brabant and Les Franc-Bourgeois (a central Brussels traders' association). The new association laid down the regulations: the event was to be held every two years, for three to four days on the weekend of 15 August, and could be enhanced by sound and lighting, fireworks, a jazz concert and other traditional folk entertainments.
Starting in 1986, the event has been regularly held biannually, each time under a different theme, with the Flower Carpet now estimated to attract between 150,000 and 200,000 local and international visitors. In 2020, the Flower Carpet was included in the inventory of intangible cultural heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region. An application is underway to grant the Flower Carpet the status of Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
The Flower Carpet is composed mainly of tuberous begonias (Begonia tuberosa grandiflora), one of Belgium's major exports since 1860, and occasionally dahlias. The choice of the begonia is not accidental. This hardy flower brings beauty and vivid colours to the carpet. It originated in the Antilles and can withstand different meteorological conditions, such as strong sun, wind, rain, or cold.
Despite the fact that the laying of the carpet on the square is carried out in one day, preparation work already starts two years prior. The subject will first need to be chosen: the commemoration of great events, a country, a region, or other celebrations, then the work will proceed in stages. The model of the carpet, then the model with real dimensions (24 by 77 metres (79 by 253 ft)), the number of flowers and their sizes will be determined before being grown.
On the day of the event, about 120 volunteers are needed to set up, on a life-size drawing of the transparent and micro-perforated plastic mat, the decoration of grasses and bark where the flowers will be placed, produced on special order by horticulturists from the Ghent region in East Flanders. About 500,000 to 750,000 flowers are required to create the ephemeral 1,800 m (19,000 sq ft) carpet (approximately 300 flowers per m), which takes between four and eight hours of work to complete. This multicoloured tapestry can be admired from the balcony of the Town Hall, which is open to visitors, in exchange for a small fee.
Each year of the Flower Carpet, organisers select a theme for inspiration. Theses themes are carefully chosen with reference to the history of Belgium and especially Brussels, highlighting its role within Europe and the international community, whether by commemorating events (e.g. thematic years, European presidency, etc.) or by honouring a host country (e.g. France, Turkey, Japan, Mexico, etc.).
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