Meise Botanic Garden
(+32) 2 260 09 70 (+32) 2 260 09 20
Steven Dessein, CEO, Botany, 0032 (0)2 2600926, 0032 (0)2 2600945, steven.dessein@plantentuinmeise.be
Dr. Steven Dessein 0032 (0)2 2600926 steven.dessein@plantentuinmeise.be Research field: botany
There are two legal bodies associated with the Botanic Garden Meise: a board of directors and a scientific committee. The composition is as follows:
Board of directors: Mark Andries (government delegate), Steven Dessein (secretariat), Veronique Halloin Chantal, Kaufmann, Jan Rammeloo (president), Jan Schaerlaekens, Raf Suys (government delegate), Ann Van Dievoet, Mieke Van Gramberen, Yorie Vastersavendts, Mieke Verbeken, Renate Wesselingh
Scientific committee: Geert Angenon, Elke Bellefroid, Petra De Block, Frederik De Laender, Jérôme Degreef, Régine Fabri, Olivier Honnay, Pete Lowry, Pierre Meerts, Ivan Nijs, Claire Périlleux, Erik Smets, Annemieke Verbeken, Renate Wesselingh
Permanent (P) | Non – Permanent (NP) | |
---|---|---|
a) TOTAL scientific staff | 20 | 13 |
b) Scientific staff linked to Collections | 5 | 3 |
c) Post-docs / PhD students | 0 | 1 |
d) Others (Associates, etc.) | 0 | 0 |
TOTAL (a+b+c+d) | 25 | 17 |
Permanent (P) | Non – Permanent (NP) | |
---|---|---|
e) Exhibitions | 4 | 1 |
f) Collection Managers / technicians | 53 | 13 |
g) Others | 35 | 46 |
TOTAL (e+f+g) | 90 | 61 |
Restaurant is in concession. All other tasks (maintenance, cleaning, catering for personnel,… is carried out by personnel of the Garden). 30 persons paid by the French Community, rest paid by the Flemish Community.
- Morphological lab
- Molecular lab (pre PCR)
- Molecular lab (post PCR)
- SEM
- three HERBSCANS
- four digitization units
- Special scanning room for scanning large objects
Seed bank
Herbarium higher plants
Herbarium mosses H
erbarium fungi and lichens
Collection diatom
Xylarium
Mission statement: Building a sustainable future through discovery, research and conservation of plants
Activity programmes:
- Discovering and recording biodiversity
- Safeguarding life
- Understanding ecosystems
- (Re)connecting plants and people
- Inspiring and informing
- Bringing our heritage to life
Plant Ecology and Evolution (http://www.plecevo.eu);
Dumortiera (http://www.br.fgov.be/PUBLIC/GENERAL/publicationsplanten_dumortiera_all.php)
Book series: Scripta Botanica Belgica; Opera Botanica Belgica
Typology | Primary types | Individual specimens/objects | % registered cards | % recorded cards in database | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.1 | |||||
1.2 | |||||
1.3 | |||||
1.4 | |||||
... |
Typology | Primary types | Individual specimens/objects | % registered cards | % recorded cards in database | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.1 | Botany | 3000000 | 80 | 10 | |
2.2 | Mycology | 800000 | 100 | 100 |
Archives: 15000 pieces (letters, manuscripts,…)
Living collections database: http://www.botanicgarden.be/RESEARCH/COLLECTIONS/LIVING/LIVCOL/index.html
Yes, seed samples upon request with all other botanical gardens within the IPEN network; DNA material exchange with trusted scientific institutes
- Website
- Expositions (permanent en temporarily)
- Electronic newsletter

Newsletter Musa, Link: http://www.plantentuinmeise.be/PUBLIC/GENERAL/GENERALFR/musafr.php
Chris Kosolosky - Chris.kosolosky@br.fgov.be
Visitor numbers increased over the last 15 years from c. 60.000 in 2000 to 131.995 in 2016.
Not in a formal way.
Yes, some of our scientists are guest professor at universities.
No
No
We offer guided tours, adapted day visits for all school children, and special workshops that fit within the Belgian education program.
Koen Es - Koen.es@br.fgov.be
Development of e-floras
Flora of the world
Systematic research in general
Ex-situ and in-situ conservation programmes
Systematic research in general
Flora of the world