Origin and history of the Floralies of Ghent
The petty bourgeoisie and the nobility that, in the 18th century, were the large buyers on the Kouter of Ghent of the presented turban buttercups, tulips, balsa mines and daisies, desired to possess also more exotic plants. In the generously illustrated flower books that were edited abroad in that time, they found illustrations of the here-unknown plants with odd, beautiful flowers. Especially in England plants were imported from overseas territories and cultivated locally. A bright person from Ghent, the gardener Frans Van Cassel (1745 – 1835) that bought, out of interest, several of similar foreign flower books, took his chance in about 1774.
From the English grower Loddiges he transferred a rich collection of plants to cultivate them in his greenhouses and orangeries.
When, during the French empire, Napoleon Bonaparte promulgated the continental blockade in 1806 Van Cassel was one of the few horticulturalists in Ghent with a magnificent collection of rare and exotic plants.
Every time he had the chance, he went to England to examine the latest ‘new imported’ specimens. During these trips, Frans Van Cassel visited the exhibitions that were organized by the English growers to introduce their new plants to the public.
The Society for Agriculture and Horticulture (1808)
On10 October 1808 Frans Van Cassel held a discussion with his colleague-gardeners in the rural pub ‘Au jardin de Frascati’, about the sales methods used by the English growers.
The persons present were so much under the spell of his plea and of the English example that they decided to organize an exhibition. The appropriate way to that end was the foundation of a society.
That same day the Society for Agriculture and Horticulture came into being in this pub, situated at the Coupure Rechts in the neighbourhood of the actual Akkerstraat. Thirty-four gardeners and interested are registered as founders....
The first botanical exhibition in 1809
Some months later, on 6 February 1809, the first exhibition of the new society was held in the pub ‘Au Jardin de Frascati’. This first modest exhibition can in no way be compared with the current Floralies. The surface of the first exhibition was barely 48 m². There were 49 plants installed to compete for the prize of the loveliest plant.
A Camellia japonica and a Cyclamen persicum obtained an honourable mention of respectively first and second. The silver incentive medal went to an Erica triflora. But all the 49 plants displayed were very uncommon cultural plants in that time. Furthermore, the pub room was decorated with all kinds of flowering tuberous plants, like hyacinths, tulips, crocuses and daffodils. A bust of the emperor Napoleon overlooked the entity.
The biannual exhibitions
The exhibition was such a monumental success that they decided to organize a winter and summer exhibition every year.
Initially there was enough place in the pub to accommodate the supplied plants.
However, soon they had to look for another exhibition location and they found a room in the centre of Ghent: the “Sodaliteit” in the “Korte Meer” near the “Kouter”. During the winter exhibition of 1810 already 243 plants were displayed.
Innkeeper Lanckman of ‘Au Jardin de Frascati’ who was afraid of losing his broad clientele, established a coffee house in the ‘Holstraat’ with an adjoining ‘ Room of Flora’, to organize the flower salons from 1811 onwards. The success of the exhibitions was so large that also this room was too small. Another solution had to be found for the already 500 plants supplied from 1815 onwards.
When the current Belgium came under Dutch administration after 1815 and the Society for Agriculture and Botany received the designation ‘Royal’ by King William I it was awarded a yearly donation.
In 1828, a room had to be found to accommodate already 1200 plants. The society appealed for this to the city council, which understood the importance of the flower salons for the development of the horticulture in Ghent.
The ground-floor room of the town hall, the so-called pacification room was at the disposal for the organization of the flower exhibition.
In 1834 the fiftieth exhibition of the society that coincided with its twenty-fifth anniversary, was supposed to be held in the auditorium of the University. But also the use of these rooms caused specific problems and it was decided to construct on own building.
The exhibitions in the Casino (1836)
The success of the Royal Society for Agriculture and Botany could not be stopped and it was another time necessary to look for larger spaces.
That’s why they decided to found a unanimous society under the name “Société Anonyme d’Horticulture et de Botanique de Gand”. This society would be responsible for the construction and management of the ‘Casino’. For this purpose, 2500 shares of 100 BF were issued.
The shareholders, under whom King Leopold I with 80 shares, were practically all members of the society itself or very found of plants.
On 8 January 1835 the first meeting took place with some 10 members of the board. Soon the discussions of a detailed plan followed, a lot of exhibition space, a concert hall for 800 persons, a library hall, a restaurant, some other necessary rooms and a real garden site were foreseen.
The famous architect Louis Roelandt was designed architect. The first stone was laid on 2 June 1835 and the inauguration took place on 15 August 1836. The first exhibition was organized in the Casino on 12 March 1837.
The buildings were rented to the ‘Royal Society for Agriculture and Botany ‘ for 1800 BF a year, to the concert association Saint Cecilia for 1200 BF a year and to the restaurant owner for 2400 BF a year.
The first five-yearly Floralies (1839)
The first five-yearly exhibition, the future Floralies, took place in 1839. In 1873, for the first time in history, the term ‘Floralies’ was used.
In 1866 already, the Casino had to be altered because once more, it was too small.
The last Floralies in the Casino took place in 1908.
In 1914, the latest Rose exhibition celebrated in the Casino.
During the war 1914-1918 the Casino was used as hospital.
On 19 February 1920 the gardens and buildings were expropriated by the province of East Flanders to accommodate the ‘ LabourSchool’.
In the middle of the 30s the buildings were partly demolished and transformed, and the veterinary school of the University of Ghent found its accommodation.
The Floralies’ Palace in the Citadelpark (1913)
In the beginning of the 20th century a new building was searched to organize the flower exhibitions. In the prospect of the world fair of 1913 an appropriate Floralies’ Palace was constructed in the middle of the Citadel park of Ghent.
The building had a surface of 28 824 square metres with a large hall of 170 metres long by 60 metres wide. The greenhouse for the orchids and palm trees had the dimensions of 75 by 60 metres. In the 20s, this greenhouse became the winter velodrome the so-called ‘Kuipke’.
The Floralies’ Palace, property of the city of Ghent was at the disposal of the Royal Society to organize the five-yearly Floralies of Ghent.
Not less than 13 editions would take place in this building that underwent many changes.
The last Floralies took place in the Floralies’ Palace in 1985.
Afterwards it was forced to move to Flanders Expo.
The Floralies in Flanders Expo (1990)
Since 1990 the Floralies of Ghent take place in the buildings of Flanders Expo (Sint-Denijs-Westrem). Another time, the surface for the exhibition is larger, this time 43000 m².
During the editions of 1990, 1995 and 2000 the surface was maximally used to create a park landscape in a perfect illuminated interior space by means of changing level planes, bridges and surprise spots.
Next to the group participations of the different horticulture segments of our country also some remarkable international contributions could be admired.
The Floralies remained the favourite meeting place for all those who love horticulture of Ghent. Moreover, they are still the outstanding symbol of the Flemish ornamental plant cultivation on the international forum.
Literature
Gentse Floraliën – Sierteelt in Vlaanderen (1990), René De Herdt, Stichting Mens en Kultuur
Floralies 2010 - Press 1808-2008 - Royal Society