Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Chrysanthemum Festival opened in Hasselt’s Japanese Garden, featuring hundreds of chrysanthemums arranged by floral artist Els Geerdens and 40 volunteers. Visitors, including Elisa Veronesi and Dutch tourists, praised the autumn display.
As VRT News reported, the Chrysanthemum Festival opened this week in Hasselt’s Japanese Garden. The garden is filled with hundreds of potted chrysanthemums and specially designed floral arrangements.
Floral artist Els Geerdens led the project with the help of about 40 volunteers. They spent the past week arranging the flowers and installations across the garden. The team worked to match the autumn colours of the garden.
What makes Hasselt’s Japanese garden’s Chrysanthemum Festival special this year?
The theme for this year is mono no aware, a concept that reflects the fleeting nature of life. Many of the floral arrangements are designed to blend with the garden’s autumn tones. Some stand out with bright colours, while others are subtle and merge with the natural surroundings.
Visitors enjoyed the autumn colours and the Chrysanthemum Festival in Hasselt’s Japanese Garden today, Oct 18, 2025. 3 Dutch tourists said,
“It’s beautiful, wonderful how those flower arrangements are made.”
They added that they were in Hasselt for the Jenever Festival and discovered the Chrysanthemum Festival by chance.
Elisa Veronesi from Hasselt also visited the garden and praised the festival.
“It’s even more beautiful than I expected,”
says Elisa Veronesi,
“So many beautiful colours and lovely flower arrangements. I often visit the Japanese garden, but I don’t remember ever seeing such a beautiful chrysanthemum festival. I’m truly impressed.”
The Japanese Garden in Hasselt was officially opened on November 20, 1992, after about 250 working days of construction. The garden covers 2.5 hectares and was a gift from the Japanese city of Itami to mark the sister-city relationship established in 1985.
It was designed by Japanese architect Takayuki Inoue and includes traditional features such as a tea house, bridges, waterfalls, and a koi pond. All materials were imported from Japan, and the design follows 17th-century Japanese landscaping principles. The garden is the largest Japanese garden in Europe and serves as a cultural landmark.
