The Ghent Floraliën fair has been promoting Flemish ornamental horticulture for 220 years, with the 37th edition recently taking place from 1 to 10 May. After a disastrous edition in 2016, the event now seems to be well and truly back on track.
The Floraliën palace, next to the Citadel park in Ghent, is a distinctive building, its iron ceiling structure reminiscent of a railway station. The tall walls, with the plasterwork gone in many places, betray its considerable age. A special feature is ’t Kuipke, an indoor velodrome. During the first ten days of May, the palace was the venue for the Floraliën fair.
Some growers regard the event primarily as a tradition, not necessarily seeing the commercial value of attending. This is true of azalea growers Alex, Marnix and Guy De Croock. Marnix describes their participation as his eldest brother Alex’s personal hobby. Although they made the news because the Belgian king was photographed at their stand, he says their participation in Floraliën is not commercially viable. It is not as though taking part in the fair suddenly has customers flocking to their door. Marnix mainly sees it as a fine opportunity to show their azalea collection to the general public. Alex agrees, adding that the show does help to unite growers; there is a joint stand under the banner of the Azalea and Rhododendron Association. This collaboration is highly rewarding.
