Garden of Hof van Busleyden Museum

The Hof van Busleyden was the sixteenth-century home of Hiëronymus van Busleyden, a humanist and good friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam. All but the walls of the building were destroyed during the First World War. Later on it was rebuilt and became the city museum. Hof van Busleyden is the oldest Renaissance building in the city.

The museum is surrounded by three gardens: the large inner courtyard garden on Sint-Janstraat, the smaller court of honour on Frederik de Merodestraat and the third enclosed garden that borders the back of the city palace. Two of the gardens, the inner courtyard and the court of honour, are accessible free of charge all year round between 10 am and 5 pm.

The gardens around Museum Hof van Busleyden were completely re-laid in a design inspired by the sumptuous Renaissance gardens. Natural planting, which includes vines, olives, cypresses and roses, makes this place a real green oasis. The design is by landscape architect Ronald van der Hilst and his team. Contemporary artist Berlinde De Bruyckere is responsible for the artistic interpretation. The three gardens together connect the museum with the other Burgundian pearls in the city.

Price

Free

Comfort

Accessibility

The terrain between the entrance in Sint-Janstraat and the garden is flat. The path all the way round the garden consists of paving slabs and loose pebbles. There are accessible toilets inside the museum. The museum is reached via a ramp. Behind the building is another part of the garden, which pebbles make less accessible. 

Location

Museum Hof van Busleyden
Sint-Jansstraat 2a, 2800 Mechelen