Parks and gardens also in the spotlight in Pajottenland and Zennevallei during spring

ParkenParade 2024 provides wonderful spring moments

​Today, Tourism Flemish Brabant presented the fourth edition of the ParkenParade in the Groenenberg domain in Vlezenbeek. A series of activities puts the spotlight on parks, gardens and castles, and their surroundings, from the Flemish Rand. As a visitor you can visit the Green Belt from April to June. The tourist season in Flemish Brabant starts with the ParkenParade.

​It was the Leeuwse alderman for tourism Marleen De Kegel who started with the presentation of the activities of the municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw at the ParkenParade. “Groenenberg Castle and Park, together with the Coloma domain, form a beautiful attraction in our municipality. Our annual rose festival in the rose garden starts in June and runs until September. We plan workshops, picnics and a photo exhibition. Together with the municipality of Lennik, there will be a photo search in the summer. We see opportunities in this campaign to emphasize the green and colorful character of our municipality”

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Deputy Gunther Coppens tells again how the ParkenParade once saw the light of day. “In the spring of 2021 we were in the corona period. Tourism, like many other sectors, needed a different approach. If you know that the majority of the parks and castles in our country are located in the Flemish Rand, then you also know that there are tourist opportunities there. Just look at how in England an entire economy is built around castles, parks and gardens. The reason why we still organize and promote the ParkenParade is that we want to continue to pay attention to these beautiful places. This way the visitors keep coming.”

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“This spring concept ParkenParade starts with the Easter holidays and lasts until the start of the big holidays. We work together with local entrepreneurs, volunteers and residents to spread this tourist story. There are many different activities on the calendar, from yoga to tai chi, to picnics and workshops such as painting, and of course walking, cycling and tasting. The intention is not only to receive day-trip visitors, but also to welcome tourists for more than one day,” Coppens continues.

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Our castles, parks and gardens are ‘not to be missed’ in Flanders

“To further frame it in the broader region: this green region around Brussels includes tourist highlights such as the castle of Groot-Bijgaarden, the Museum Garden of Gaasbeek, the Meise Botanical Garden, the Coloma rose garden and the Groenenberg castle domain in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. part, as well as numerous ‘hidden pearls’. Garden tourism is on the rise and we want to put the region on the map in 2024 as ‘not to be missed’ in terms of parks and gardens,” says deputy Gunther Coppens. “

​Tourism as a good feeling concept during spring

The ‘ParkenParade’ is a feel-good spring concept that responds to mental resilience. By going outside, enjoying the first rays of sunshine and relaxing, you strengthen your inner resilience. This concept is partly comparable to the ‘good feeling region’ that was programmed year after year through the collaboration of a number of Pajot regional organizations from 2010, including the Spring of the Pajottenland, to 2019, with the Bruegel year.

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“We want to offer a sustainable experience with respect for the environment within the sacred character of our beautiful parks. Developing tourism in a creative and sustainable way is the future,” concludes deputy Gunther Coppens.

​More info: www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/parkenparade