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Bank account of “National Trust Belgium” (NTAB)
BE17 0016 2443 2021
On Friday, 8th May we will be visiting the Royal Greenhouses, a vast well-known complex of monumental heated greenhouses in the park of the Royal Palace of Laken.
After a light lunch, the visit will be followed by a guided tour of the Chinese and Silk Road House nearby.
The Royal Greenhouses
At the start of our outing, we will admire the monumental pavilions, the glass copulas and long arcades that cut through the grounds of the Royal Domain like covered streets, as well as the lush vegetation inside these remarkable structures. The Royal Greenhouses contain tropical, subtropical and cold greenhouses and is the home to the Royal Botanic Collection, which includes large collections of camellias, orange trees and plants originating from mainly Central Africa.
They were commissioned by King Leopold II, designed mainly by the architect Alphonse Balat, inspired by the new architecture of the day and built between 1874 and 1905. They are part of the royal domain of Laeken and of the private gardens of the Belgian royal family, and are accessible to the public each year for three weeks in the spring.
The Chinese and Silk Road House (formerly known as Chinese Pavilion)
The Chinese and Silk Road House is situated amidst the green surroundings of the royal estate at Laeken, together with the Japanese Tower nearby. Both monuments form a remarkable exotic ensemble built at the beginning of the 20th century at the initiative of King Leopold II.
As to the Chinese and Silk Road House, the King had seen a similar pavilion at the ‘Tour du Monde’ Exhibition in Paris in 1900. Construction work started in 1903. The pavilion was originally designed as a luxury restaurant, but was never used as such. It soon became a location for a permanent collection of import products from the Far East.
Today, the Pavilion houses a remarkable collection of Chinese porcelain silverware, furniture and European paintings dating from the 17th to the 19th century. The Pavilion (recently renamed ‘Chinese Pavilion and of the countries of the Silk Road’) is presently closed for a long overdue renovation, but the curator, baroness Hennebert, and the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Piet Steel, will show us around.
Status March 16th – timing may be adapted closer to date.
9.30 : Arrival of participants at the entrance of the Greenhouses, Avenue du Parc Royal/Koninklijk Parklaan, 61 – 1020 Laeken. Entrance tickets have been pre-ordered and will be distributed to participants. (there are no facilities for having our traditional morning coffee or tea)
10.00 : Start of the visit of the grounds and greenhouses. The walk takes 2-3 hours, depending on the tour and the pace the visitor choses. No guides. A detailed map will be provided.
12.30 – 14.00 : Free stop at the tea shop, where drinks and light meals (sandwiches, …) can be ordered (at the participant’s own expense). There are no restaurants in the immediate neighbourhood of the Royal Domain.
14.00 – 14.30 : We walk to the Chinese and Silk Road House, Avenue Van Praet, Van Praetlaan 44 – 1020 Laeken, where we will be welcomed by baroness Diane Hennebert, the curator, and former ambassador Piet Steel, Chairman of the Board of the nonprofit restoring and operating the House and its surroundings.
14.30 – 16.00 : Visit of the site, the Coach House and the House itself. The curator and the Chairman kindly accepted to be our guides (both in English)
16.00 : End of the visit
-Parking spaces are scarce in the immediate neighbourhood of the Royal Domaine. There is only small car park opposite the entrance gates of the Royal Domain.
-Public transport: trams 7, 19 and 35 MIVB/STIB – stop De Wand (11 min. walk) – metro station Stuyvenbergh (18 min. walk)
-Appropriate clothing and shoes are recommended, as well as an umbrella, particularly in case of poor weather.
-At the end of the Greenhouses tour, there is a small shop, where you can find books, guides, postcards and gadgets about the Greenhouses
NTAB is an officially affiliated Supporter Group of the National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland.
The fee for this outing includes a portion allocated to our annual donation to the National Trust.
The National Trust is internationally recognized as a leading organization in heritage conservation, setting the global standard in preserving historic places, beautiful landscapes and cultural treasures for generations to come.