ANTWERP | Historic tulips bloom in Rubens’ Garden this spring

The garden of the Rubens House will once again transform into a spring spectacle in April and May, when rare historic tulips and other early flowering plants come into bloom. Visitors will be able to admire a changing display of flowers alongside a programme of outdoor activities celebrating the new season.

Historic tulips return to Rubens’ Garden

Each spring, the garden reveals a succession of rare historic tulip varieties that bloom in stages throughout April and May. The display ranges from elegant white and bright yellow tulips to deep orange-red varieties, as well as rare flamed and striped cultivars.

Among the varieties planted are tulips with evocative historical names such as Tulipa ‘Black and White’, ‘Absalon’, ‘Bacchus’, ‘Bronze Charm’, ‘Little Princess’ and ‘Rubens broken’.

The tulips are joined by other early spring flowers including crown imperials, snake’s head fritillaries, anemones and spring snowflakes. Because the flowers bloom one after another, the appearance of the garden changes almost daily.

A spring season of outdoor activities

The spring season will be officially launched with a garden festival on Saturday 4 April. The event will feature lectures, performances, guided walks and creative workshops.

Garden curator Klara Alen will present archival research on Antwerp’s historic ‘tulip bulb club’, a group of traders who conducted a profitable business in tulip bulbs just 200 metres from Rubens’ front door. According to the research, participants included Rubens’ beer supplier, his brother-in-law and several collectors of his paintings. Whether the painter himself took part in the trade remains unclear.

From April onwards, the programme will include additional activities every weekend, such as yoga in the garden, guided tours, lectures, botanical drawing workshops and herb walks.

Families can also take part in a playful Easter egg hunt in the garden on Easter Monday, 6 April.

Practical information

The garden of the Rubens House is open daily except Wednesdays.

• Garden ticket: €8.
• Free entry: children under 18 and A-card holders with the concessionary rate

Different prices apply for activities and events.

The historic tulips bloom only in April and May and appear in successive waves throughout the two months. More information and the full programme can be found on the Rubens House website.

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