Brussels central square transformed into giant Japan-inspired flower carpet
Grand-Place Blooms with Japanese Artistry in Brussels Flower Carpet
Poinews.com – The historic cobblestone expanse of Brussels' Grand-Place has been reimagined as a spectacular botanical tapestry. This year marks the 24th iteration of the city's beloved Flower Carpet tradition, with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic taking center stage. Japanese creator Hiro Sugiyama crafted this year's masterpiece, offering a fresh interpretation of Katsushika Hokusai's legendary woodblock print known as "The Great Wave off Kanagawa."
Spanning 70 meters in length and 24 meters in width, the installation utilizes more than 700,000 blossoms, predominantly dahlias which hold special significance in Belgian horticulture. The elaborate arrangement honors Hokusai's enduring work, now approaching two centuries of cultural influence. Sugiyama expressed his hope that the installation would introduce elements of modern Japanese artistic sensibility to Belgian audiences.
A Decade of Collaboration
The Japanese designer dedicated eight months to perfecting the composition. While his original vision called for a richer variety of hues, scheduling demands required him to work within a restricted palette of sixteen distinct colors. Reflecting on this creative constraint, Sugiyama shared his experience:
"To be honest, at the beginning, I was pretty nervous about [the limited colours palette], but once I came here and saw the design and the flowers laid out, I was very excited and realised that I didn't need to worry about it at all, because it looks beautiful already."
This joint Belgian-Japanese effort celebrates the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It also arrives ten years after the inaugural collaborative Flower Carpet project launched in 2016. Richard Poncint, representing the Brussels Flower Carpet Organisation, emphasized the installation's broader significance beyond mere visual appeal:
"Culture events show people that we can work together, we can do interesting things together and that's one of the things we do here also with our Japanese friends."
The Art of Assembly
Organizers follow a meticulous process once the theme is finalized. They calculate the precise quantity of flowers needed and select the appropriate color scheme. Days before the final assembly, artisans draw a life-size version of the design onto a massive cotton canvas positioned across the square. On Thursday, over one hundred volunteers spent roughly six hours carefully positioning each bloom according to Sugiyama's vision.
Japanese Ambassador to Belgium, Takeshi Osuga, joined the volunteers in the hands-on work. He explained his motivation for participating directly:
"A lot of Japanese sponsors contributed to this event and I wanted to contribute by laying out the flowers."
The Flower Carpet tradition traces its origins back to 1971, with the installation returning to Brussels' central square biennially. The finished carpet incorporates dahlias, begonias, grass, and bark to create texture and depth. Visitors may stroll around the perimeter or admire the work from the Town Hall's elevated balcony.
The 2026 exhibition runs from August 13 through August 16. Although online sales have concluded, attendees can purchase tickets at the venue entrance during operating hours.
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