Berlaar (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Berlaar hosts Plantjesweekend from September 17-20. Volunteers from local associations sell plants door-to-door. Over 2,590 sold last year. Coordinator Martine Van Tomme says proceeds support cancer care projects.
As GVA News reported, every 3rd weekend of September, Berlaar, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, hosts Plantjesweekend, a fundraising campaign for Stand Up to Cancer. Hundreds of volunteers go from door to door selling plants. They also inform residents about the work done to fight cancer. The event has grown into a regular tradition in Berlaar.
What will Berlaar volunteers achieve during this year’s Plantjesweekend?
The event is organised by many local associations. Groups involved include:
- ACV
- Davidsfonds
- Femma Heikant
- Ferm Centrum
- Ferm Heikant
- Gezinsbond
- Jongerenband
- KLJ
- Landelijke Gilde
- Red Cross
- Samana Centrum
- Samana Heikant and volunteers from the former KWB Station and Femma Centrum.
These organisations manage the volunteers and plan the plant sale routes. Every plant sold raises funds for cancer research and patient support.
The Berlaar plant sale will take place from Wednesday afternoon, September 17, 2025, until Saturday afternoon, September 20, 2025. The municipality will provide logistical. Organisers say this support is essential to reach as many residents as possible and ensure that each street is properly covered.
In 2023, Berlaar residents purchased over 2,590 plants during the campaign. Martine Van Tomme, coordinator of Kom op tegen Kanker, expressed hope that the town’s generosity will continue this year. Each plant costs 10 euros.
Plantjesweekend has been a yearly event in Berlaar since 1992. The initiative started small but steadily grew into a major community tradition. In 2000, volunteers sold more than 1,500 plants, marking the first significant fundraising milestone for Kom op tegen Kanker. By 2010, many local associations joined, allowing the campaign to reach every street in the town.
