Loenhout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Wakawe released a special gin made with Stolze von Berlin dahlia to fund their 2026 Loenhout flower parade float. Last year, they sold 550 bottles. Tim Joosen leads the project.
As VRT News reported, in early September 2025, the flower parade will return to the streets of Loenhout, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. It is an event where people from different neighborhoods show large floats covered in dahlia flowers. These floats take months to build. People work together to plan, build, and decorate them.
One group, called Wakawe, found a way to help pay for their float. They made a special gin with help from Sterkstokers, a small distillery in Sint-Lenaarts. They first did this last year and sold 550 bottles. The money helped cover the float costs.
This year, they made a new version of the gin. Instead of mixing different flowers, they used just one kind called Stolze von Berlin. This flower is purple-pink and often used on the floats. Its root tastes a bit like radish. They used it for half of the gin, which gives the drink a stronger taste and a longer aftertaste. Wakawe hopes the new gin will sell just as well and support their float again.
“The gin has a stronger flavour that lingers longer.”
Tim Joosen, dahlia grower
How does Wakawe’s Dahlia Gin support Loenhout’s 2026 float?
Joosen from Wakawe says this year’s gin is made using only the Stolze von Berlin. It is a purple-pink dahlia that is often used on the flower floats. Joosen says they used this tuber for half of the gin’s distillation. The flower gives the gin a different flavour that stands out.
He mentioned that it is more than just a drink. It helps raise money and also reminds people of the flower parade. By turning their main flower into gin, Wakawe found a fun way to connect with the community and support their float in the parade.
Wakawe releases a special edition gin bottle every year to celebrate the Loenhout flower parade. These bottles are designed and are sought after by collectors. Last year, the bottle was white and included a poem about the dahlia, the parade’s signature flower. For 2024, Wakawe chose a sleek black bottle for a bold look. The team hopes that each bottle will become a cherished piece of local tradition over the years.
People can buy the special Wakawe gin at 2 local stores: the Spar supermarket in Loenhout and the Loenhoutse Bierhalle. Officials mentioned that the money from this year’s sales will help fund the 2026 parade float. This early fundraising helps the Wakawe team prepare for future parades.
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