Botanical Garden of Mechelen

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The botanical garden seen from the river Dijle - panoramio (1).jpg
The botanical garden seen from the river

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]

Contents

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.

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Events in the year 1840 in Belgium.

Joseph Van Hoorde was a Belgian horticulturalist, first head gardener of the Botanical Garden of Mechelen.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "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.

51°01′24″N4°29′05″E / 51.0234°N 4.4848°E / 51.0234; 4.4848