The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken is a large compound featuring heated greenhouses in the park of the Royal Castle of Laeken in Brussels, Belgium. Tropical, subtropical and cold greenhouses are included in the collection and while they are world renowned, they are not a tourist attraction as the greenhouses come under the Royal Park, which are not usually open to the public.

Practically every inch of the glass city was the brainchild of King Leopold II. A lifelong project, the Royal Greenhouses had its beginnings in 1874 and the development continued on for another 31 years till 1905, 4 years before the glass city’s prominent innovator took his last breath. An dream conceptualised by his ardent desire to use Laeken as the primary grounds for hosting conferences and ceremonies, it was then that King Leopold II decided on a revolutionary design which involved glass and steel. Built from the dreams of King Leopold II and the sweat of Alphonse Balat and subsequently, Henri Maquet and Charles Girault, this futuristic glass city of its time finally came to fruition. Beyond the greenhouses itself, it was, and still is, King Leopold II’s beloved botanical collection that continues to steal the show. Amassed from his times spent travelling, his favourite among all the exotic plants and trees was the camellias.

With every greenhouse of a different theme and housing plants of at least 200 years old, this is going to be one therapeutic experience!