Each year of the Flower Carpet, organisers select a theme for inspiration. Theses themes are carefully chosen with reference to the history of Belgium and especially Brussels, highlighting its role within Europe and the international community, whether by commemorating events (e.g. thematic years, European presidency, etc.) or by honouring a host country (e.g. France, Turkey, Japan, Mexico, etc.). • In 1971, the carpet's first theme was "Arabesques". An
arabesque is an ornament made of stylised, repeated and artistically intertwined plants. • In 1976, the carpet's second theme was "Year of the Landscapes, Parks and Gardens". • In 1979, the millennium of Brussels was celebrated with a third carpet representing the patron saint of the
City of Brussels,
Saint Michael, accompanied by the contemporary
Latin name of Brussels,
Bruoscella. • In 1980, to celebrate Belgium's 150th anniversary, the carpet was adorned with the
coat of arms of Belgium. • In 1986, the carpet featured the coat of arms of the City of Brussels, with Saint Michael slaying the devil, wreathed with the Latin inscription
Bruxella Civitas Brabantiae. • In 1988, the pattern was inspired by the carpets of the Chinese province of
Xinjiang. • In 1990, the carpet was dedicated to
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to commemorate the "Year of Mozart", the 200th anniversary of the composer's death. • In 1992, the carpet celebrated the role of the City of Brussels in the
European Community, as well as the 500th anniversary of the
discovery of America by
Christopher Colombus. • In 1994, to mark the 50th anniversary of the
liberation of Brussels, the carpet was dedicated to the liberators, with the bearings of the two British regiments and the
Brigade Piron, the First Belgian Independent Group, appearing alongside the arms of Brussels. • In 1996, the carpet was conceived as a
French formal garden with designs inspired by the
Flemish Renaissance. • In 1998, the carpet was inspired by the geometrical scalloped designs on the rugs of the semi-nomadic tribes of north-eastern Turkey. • In 2000, to celebrate the new millennium and to pay homage to the City of Brussels, the carpet represented an ancient inlaid table covered with a table runner in
Brussels lace. • In 2002, the carpet was reminiscent of the gardens of the
Palace of Versailles and was embellished with fountains. • In 2004, the carpet drew inspiration from
Art Nouveau. Brussels was one of the major European cities for the development of the style in the 1890s and early 1900s. • In 2006, the carpet had as theme the
Middle Ages and
alchemy, as the buildings on the Grand-Place have their roots in this period. • In 2008, the carpet was inspired by the
Savonnerie manufactory, the most prestigious European manufactory of knotted-pile
carpets, represented through 18th-century French designs and colours. • In 2010, the carpet honoured the
Belgian presidency of the European Union and
Herman Van Rompuy, the first
President of the European Council, with images of historic Belgian symbols alongside the EU logo. • In 2012, the carpet exhibited the colours of Africa, inspired by traditional fabrics, tribal costumes and pre-colonial shields. • In 2014, the carpet paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of
Turkish immigrants Turks came to Belgium in 1964 when both countries signed a bilateral treaty welcoming immigrants during the
economic boom. • In 2018, the carpet featured cultural elements from the Mexican state of
Guanajuato, including symbolism from the
Chupícuaro,
Otomí and
Purépecha cultures. In addition to the begonias, the carpet included
dahlias, the national flower of Mexico. • In 2024, the carpet departed from tradition, featuring
Campine dahlias instead of the usual begonias. The pattern was inspired by
street art and used the
metaphor of the plant
rhizome to illustrate Brussels' diversity and the interconnection between its districts. ==Gallery==