Brussels Grand Place hosts giant dahlia carpet inspired by Hokusai's Great Wave

Brussels has transformed its historic Grand Place into a large-scale floral interpretation of Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." The installation uses approximately 500,000 dahlias arranged across 1,300 square metres of the square's cobblestones.

The flower carpet is a recurring tradition in Brussels, typically held every two years in August. Each edition features a new design created by a team of gardeners and volunteers who place the flowers by hand over several days.

Hokusai's 1831 print, part of his "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" series, is one of the most recognized images in Japanese art. The floral version reproduces the wave's curved form and foam details using different dahlia colours.

The Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded by guildhalls and the city's Town Hall, serves as the backdrop for the temporary artwork. The square's rectangular shape and historic architecture frame the installation for visitors viewing from ground level and surrounding buildings.

Organizers select dahlia varieties for their colour range and durability during the display period, which typically lasts several days. The flowers are placed directly on the cobblestones without soil, packed tightly to form a continuous surface.

After the exhibition ends, the dahlias are distributed to the public or composted. The event draws tourists and locals to the city centre, though specific attendance figures for this edition were not provided.

The 2026 edition continues a practice that began in 1971, with designs ranging from geometric patterns to reproductions of paintings and cultural motifs. Previous carpets have featured themes from Belgian regions, other countries, and artistic movements.

Weather conditions can affect the carpet's appearance during its brief display period. Rain or heat may cause petals to wilt or colours to fade before the scheduled removal date.