Why are there more flowers in Brussels in 2026?
This week, the Green Spaces teams from the City of Brussels launched an unprecedented spring campaign: nearly 300 floral installations will gradually reappear in the capital’s streets, squares and shopping districts. That is almost three times as many as in 2024.
A spectacular rollout that marks a clear change of direction. “From 2018, the City of Brussels gradually removed flowers from the public realm. I wanted to reverse this trend,” states Florence Frelinx, First Alderman of the City of Brussels, responsible for Public Heritage, Sport, Green Spaces and Animal Welfare. “Today, we are making the clear choice to put flowers back in our streets by tripling the number of installations, because beauty in the city is never secondary.”
Where to see the new flower installations in Brussels?
The 2026 programme is ambitious and varied:
- 100 hanging baskets on cast-iron lampposts
- 12 giant pyramids in landmark squares
- Large corten steel planters and double urns
- Bespoke arrangements for shopping streets
Trailing petunias, ivy-leaved geraniums, blue lobelias, delicate grasses: the municipal teams are working with species resistant to urban heat and water stress, as part of a sustainable beautification strategy.
More than aesthetics: a strategy for city beautification
Behind the display lies a genuine urban strategy. The City has the stated objective of bolstering the appeal of shopping districts and making certain areas more welcoming — for residents and visitors alike.
“A street in bloom, a beautified square, a more colourful avenue: these are the small details that profoundly change a city’s atmosphere and the daily lives of those who live here,” the First Alderman summarises.
At a time when European capitals are redoubling their efforts to green their centres, Brussels is sending a strong signal: urban beauty is a public service. And it is back.
This is exactly the kind of initiative that beautifies Brussels — and one the capital needs to burnish its image, rediscover its pride and make people want to stroll, live and invest here again. Thank you, Florence Frelinx. 🌷
🔗 Verifiable sources & links
- Sudinfo — “Brussels triples its floral decorations in the streets” (22 May 2026)
- City of Brussels — Green Spaces
- City of Brussels — College of Mayor and Aldermen
- Official Instagram of Florence Frelinx (@florencefrelinx)
— Iris, floral mascot of BXLpositive.news
