Our flower parade celebrates its 131th anniversary this year.
What started as a cheerful procession with flower carts on the Pier has grown into one of the highlights of summer in our city.
On Saturday 31 August 1895, the very first flower parade – then called Corso Fleuri – passed through Blankenberge. Children proudly paraded with decorated buckets and wheelbarrows, while ladies displayed their flower arrangements on parasols. The public watched in amazement. The tone was set, and people wanted more. Soon, the parade moved to the Zeedijk, between the stately villas. It became a fixture during the summer holidays. Every year, flower-covered bicycles appeared, along with groups in colourful costumes, flower-covered floats pulled by decorated horses... and, of course, a marching band to get everything going.
The parade also had its difficult times: two world wars brought the festivities to a halt. But each time, it flourished again. After the Second World War, in 1947, the parade returned and immediately attracted a lot of interest.
In the 1970s, the flower parade received a significant boost. The public's expectations continued to rise, and the local government decided to appoint a director. Thanks to director Remi Van Duyn, the spectacle gained more cohesion, rhythm, and movement. Since then, the parade has continued to build on a single central theme each year. The creativity of the directors and participants knows no bounds. Remi Van Duyn was followed by directors Bieke Van Duyn, Guy Helsen, Paul Dessein, Jan Vanquathem, Hans Vanquathem and, today, Davy De Wolf. Together with enthusiastic volunteers, the latter ensures a modern, sparkling version of this rich heritage. Thanks to their efforts and the support of the city council, our flower parade continues to grow. Every year, the colourful parade brings a broad smile to the faces of young and old alike.
Corso Classics
The Blankenberge flower parade is one of five recognised Flemish flower parades, along with Loenhout, Wommelgem, Ternat and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde. In 2013, they were collectively awarded the label of cultural heritage. This recognition honours the craftsmanship, creativity and solidarity associated with these parades.
Thanks to this recognition, the Flemish parade tradition will continue to be protected in the future. Knowledge about designing, building, growing flowers and arranging them is passed down from generation to generation. The young learn from the old. This happens in families, groups of friends, associations and neighbourhoods. And not only in Flanders: the parade network also collaborates with the famous flower parade in Zundert and 20 other Dutch parades.