Kruidtuin – the Green Heart of Mechelen

Kruidtuin, affectionately nicknamed "den Botanique" by locals, is the largest public park in the historic centre of Mechelen, in the Belgian province of Antwerp. Covering around 30,640 m², it sits at the end of the Bruul street, overlooking the Binnendijle river and the Fonteinbrug bridge. The main entrance is on the Bruul, with additional access points from Pitzemburgstraat and Zandpoortvest.

Where does the site's history begin?

The land now occupied by the park belonged, from the Middle Ages onward, to the commandery of the Teutonic Order at Pitzemburg. It was here, in 1580, that the renowned Flemish botanist Carolus Clusius planted potatoes for the first time in the region — one of the earliest documented cultivations of the crop in this part of Europe. After the knightly order was abolished, the grounds passed into other hands, eventually attracting the interest of a local horticultural society in the nineteenth century.

A horticultural society was founded in Mechelen in 1837 and, in 1839, obtained the use of the former Pitzemburg commandery grounds. The society laid out a French formal garden, which opened to the public on 4 June 1840 under its first head gardener, Joseph Van Hoorde. In 1862 the garden was redesigned by Louis Fuchs in the style of an English landscape garden. Following the First World War, it became a municipal park open to all residents of Mechelen.

What can visitors see in the park today?

Kruidtuin is now above all a quiet, green retreat at the heart of the city. It combines native tree species — common beech, copper beech, common ash and linden — with exotic specimens such as the London plane, white horse chestnut, maple, Japanese walnut, American oak and magnolia. The winding paths and carefully arranged plantings preserve the character of the nineteenth-century landscape garden, even though the park now functions primarily as a public urban green space.

What events take place in Kruidtuin?

Every July and August, the park comes alive with Parkpop, a series of free open-air concerts held on Thursday evenings. It has become one of the most popular summer attractions in Mechelen, drawing both locals and visitors exploring the city.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the park free? Yes, Kruidtuin is a public municipal park with free access all year round.

How does it differ from a classic botanical garden? Despite its name and botanical history, Kruidtuin today functions mainly as an urban park, with walking paths, lawns and mature trees, rather than a scientific collection garden.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The park borders the Binnendijle river and the Fonteinbrug bridge, making it easy to combine a walk through the greenery with a visit to Mechelen's historic city centre right next door.

When is the best time to visit Kruidtuin? In summer, when the Parkpop concerts fill the park with evening life, while spring and autumn offer a quieter setting among the mature trees.