Botanical Garden of Mechelen

The Botanical Garden of Mechelen (Kruidtuin Mechelen) is the largest public park within the historic city centre of Mechelen, Belgium.[1] It is located on the north bank of the River Dijle and is surrounded by educational establishments (two secondary-school campuses to the east and west, and the Kruidtuin campus of Thomas More University College to the north). Entrances are in the Bruul, the Pitzemburgstraat, and via a footpath from the Zandpoortvest.[1]

The botanical garden seen from the river

History

A horticultural society was established in Mechelen in 1837, and in 1839 obtained the use of the grounds of the former Teutonic Order Commandery of Pitzemburg. There they established a French formal garden, which opened to the public on 4 June 1840 with Joseph Van Hoorde as head gardener.[2] In 1862 it was redesigned in the style of an English landscape garden by Louis Fuchs.[1] After the First World War it became a municipal park.[3] Extensive renovations were carried out in 2010–2018.[1]

Herb garden

Within the botanical garden there is a garden of medicinal and culinary herbs, with 250 specimens, laid out around a statue of the Renaissance botanist Rembert Dodoens and dedicated to his memory.[4] It is maintained by an association of volunteers.[1] The park as a whole is maintained by the municipality and contains footpaths, an open-air stage, and a children's playground.

References
  1. "Kruidtuin". City of Mechelen.
  2. Émile Van Arenbergh, "Van Hoorde, Joseph", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 9 (Brussels, 1887), 459-460.
  3. "Botanical Garden". Visit Mechelen. City of Mechelen.
  4. André de Vries, Flanders: A Cultural History (Oxford University Press, 2007), pp. 241-242.

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