By the late 19th century, Blankenberge had become a major resort with a dedicated summer audience. To keep vacationers entertained, a special committee organized a special program with various festivities and attractions for kids and grown-ups alike. The Flower Parade was one of the main highlights of this program.
The inaugural Bloemencorso Blankenberge was held on August 31, 1895, which makes it the oldest corso in Flanders. It featured children on trolleys decorated with flowers and women with floral umbrellas. The parade was such as success that it was decided to hold it annually. The second parade took place on September 4, 1896. It was a much more impressive procession featuring people of all ages in bright outfits, carriages and bikes decorated with flowers, horses, marching bands, and more.
The flower parade was held annually until the outbreak of World War I. After the war, Blankenberge was one of the first cities to revive its Bloemencorso. The parade was discontinued once more during World War II and revived again in 1947. For about two decades, Bloemencorso Blankenberge lacked it original splendor, but the new committee that took over the event in 1971 has transformed it into one of the largest and most beautiful flower parades in Belgium.
As we’ve already mentioned above, Bloemencorso Blankenberge is held on the last Sunday in August, attracting around 100,000 to 200,000 spectators each year. The parade includes beautiful floats decorated with hundreds and even thousands of flowers, music bands, and dance groups. After the corso, the floats are exhibited at the town’s main square. The parade is accompanied by concerts, competitions, and other events and attractions.
Photo: bloemencorso-blankenberge.be
