Belgium’s National Botanic Garden is a 93-hectare park located in the village of Meise, 12km north of Brussels. It’s based around two lakes and includes the Kasteel van Boechout, a moated castle that Léopold II gave to his sister, Princess Charlotte, after her own at Tervuren burnt down in 1879.
Of the 18,000 plant species, the park’s most prized orchids, carnivorous plants and famous giant Amazonian water lilies are housed in the 1966 Plantenpaleis (Plant Palace), a series of 13 connecting greenhouses.
Other highlights are the outdoor medicinal garden and a small 1864 greenhouse shaped like a king’s crown. That was built in by Balat, Horta’s teacher and the architect responsible for the Serres Royales. The 18th-century orangery has been converted into a cafe and shop.
From Brussels, De Lijn buses 250/251 run every 15 minutes from Bruxelles-Nord (35 minutes) via Bockstael metro station (20 minutes).
