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National Botanical Garden of Belgium
Address:
Bouchout Domain - Nieuwelaan 38
1860 Meise
Phone: +32 / (0)2 / 260.09.70
Fax: +32 / (0)2 / 260.09.45
E-mail: info@BR.fgov.be
Website: http://www.botanicgarden.be/
Open: October-March: 9.30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
April-September: 9.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.
Closed: December 25 and Januari 1st extreme bad weather
Price: between 1 € and 5 €
Visits: upon reservation, 6 themed guided tours
Services: library (Tuesday and Thursday)
Facilities: tavern (April-Oktober), Garden Shop, weelchairs, walking frames and trollies for young children can be obtained for free
Accessibility: Bus (De Lijn): 250, 251 buses leave from the Gare du Nord or from the Metro station Roi Baudouin. Ask for 'Bouchout Kasteel'.
Collection: Collection of 18,000 species of plants beneath the glass roofs of the "Plant Palace", opportunity to stroll through the large historic domain.
Description: Belgium's National Botanical Garden, only just at 3 kms from the Atomium, comprises the extensive Bouchout estate (92 hectares) and makes for an interesting day-trip.
An English-style landscaped park fills approximately two-thirds of the land, sharing it with beautiful greenhouses and lush collections of plants and trees from around the world. The lawns, stands of trees, ponds, the old orangerie and flowerbeds - all make for pleasant walks and an open-air education. There are some 18,000 species to be seen (conifers, trees and small shrubs, medicinal plants, etc.) but the absolute must-see is probably the Plants Palace, a large, glass-panelled structure covering a full hectare, 16m-high.
The various greenhouses in this complex are kept warm and humid to assist the growth of the amazing range of mostly tropical and subtropical plants. Rhododendrons and orchids sit side by side offering spectacular views, while the garden itself is divided into various areas (Herbetum, Fructicetum, Coniferetum, etc.), where plants are classified according to their essence and origin.
Walking through the park and greenhouses you will become familiar not only with the various species, but also with the many purposes of plants: decorative, dyeing, medicinal, etc.
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