Located in downtown Antwerp is the beautiful Botanical Garden (De Plantentuin).  It’s 2 minutes both from my apartment and work, so during the Spring and Summer, when the weather’s nice, I like to picnic in the garden or sit on one of the benches with a nice book.

Me visiting the Antwerp Botanical Garden in April 2012

The Botanical Garden has been around for more than 200 years!  At first the hospital next to the garden, Saint Elisabeth (Sint-Elisabethhospitaal), used it to grow medicinal plants. Then, about 125 years ago, the garden was used for botanical and scientific research. Now the garden is classified as a landscape of great value.

Antwerp Botanical Garden

Antwerp Botanical Garden

Antwerp Botanical Garden

Close-up of tulips in the Antwerp Botanical Garden

If you would like to read more about the Antwerp Botanical Garden, here is a link to the City’s site: http://www.visitantwerpen.be/Bezoekerssite-EN/Publicatiekanalen/Stad/Antwerpenbe/Bezoekerssites/Bezoekerssite-EN/Bezoekerssite-EN-Bezoekerssite-EN/Bezoekerssite-EN-Bezoekerssite-EN-Doelgroepnavigatie/Visitors/to-do/to-do-sights/to-do-sights-a-green-city-Botanical-garden.html