Royal Greenhouses of Laeken

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The 'Serre du Congo' or 'Congoserre' (left) and the 'Grote wintertuin' or 'Grand Jardin d'hiver' (right) part of the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken

The Royal Greenhouses of Laeken (in Dutch: Koninklijke Serres van Laken, in French: Serres Royales de Laeken), are a vast complex of monumental heated greenhouses in the park of the Royal Castle of Laeken in Brussels and one of the major tourist attractions of the city. The complex was commissioned by King Leopold II of Belgium and designed by Alphonse Balat. Built between 1874 and 1895, the complex was finished with the completion of the so-called 'Iron Church', a domed greenhouse that would originally serve as the royal chapel. The total floor surface of this immense complex is 2.5 hectares (270,000 square feet). 800,000 liters (over 200,000 US gallons) of fuel oil are needed each year to heat the buildings.

The complex can only be visited in April-May during a two-week period. That is when most flowers are in full bloom.

Interior of the dome of the 'Grand Jardin d'hiver' or 'Grote Wintertuin'

[edit] Gallery

Orangerie		View of the Orangerie in the direction of the theatre	"Jardin d'hiver/Wintertuin"
Under the dome of the "Jardin d'hiver"	Interior of the "Jardin d'hiver"	Visitors in the "Jardin d'hiver"	Junction between the "Jardin d'hiver" and the Orangerie
Junction between the "Jardin d'hiver" and the Orangerie	"Embarcadère" and "Serre du Congo"	Interior of the "Embarcadère"	Interior of the "Serre du Congo"
Interior of the "Serre du Congo"	Interior of the "Serre du Congo"
The long glass gallery in bloom		Interior of the "Serre de Diane"	Royal indoor swimming pool (formerly "iron church")
Stairs to the "Pavillion des palmiers"