van Buuren Museum & Gardens, one of Brussels’ cultural jewels, in Belgium is proud to announce that it has joined the internationally renowned European Route of Historic Gardens, a cultural itinerary created by the Council of Europe. Founded in 2016, the European Route of Historic Gardens aims to preserve and promote the cultural heritage associated with historic gardens in Europe. As a new member and the first recognized historic garden in Belgium, van Buuren Museum & Gardens joins an exclusive network of iconic sites that share a common passion for the history, art and architecture of gardens. This recognition highlights all the conservation work undertaken by the van Buuren Museum & Gardens in collaboration with the Brussels-Capital Region.

The van Buuren gardens, true masterpieces of landscape art, were created by the famous Belgian landscape architects Jules Buyssens (1872-1958) and René Pechère (1908-2002). Recognition of these Brussels gardens by the European Route of Historic Gardens was achieved following an extremely rigorous selection process, during which the EHRG’s scientific selection committee scrupulously assessed the cultural, historical and artistic value of these gardens, as well as the Museum’s commitment to their preservation and restoration. It is thanks to the unwavering commitment of the Brussels-Capital Region and the Museum to the conservation of these historic gardens, and their sustained efforts to raise public awareness of the cultural and environmental importance of heritage gardens, that this recognition has been awarded.
« With more than 52% of its territory covered in vegetation, Brussels is one of the greenest capitals in Europe, where many gardens, squares, tree-lined avenues, parks and forests help to make our Region a place where nature thrives,” says Ans Persoons, Brussels Secretary of State for Urbanism and Heritage. “Rich in unique biodiversity and necessary to combat climate change, these green spaces in Brussels are also very often witnesses to the history of our territory, urban development and the vision of architects and landscape architects. Persoons added that it is now her ambition to continue this work of promoting and protecting Brussels’ heritage greenery by developing a specific Brussels label for remarkable parks and gardens in the near future.”
Brussels’ gardens and parks therefore represent a unique historical, landscape, tree, architectural, cultural and artistic heritage that deserves our utmost attention and must be protected and enhanced at all costs. Following the restoration work supported by Urban.brussels, this international recognition of the van Buuren gardens, the first in Belgium to join the European Route of Historic Gardens, marks an important stage in the preservation and enhancement of the city’s historic heritage.

« We are delighted to announce that the van Buuren Gardens are now part of the European Route of Historic Gardens,” says Jacques Bedoret, Chairman of the van Buuren Museum & Gardens. This is an important step for us. Joining this selective network, which includes such gems as the Boboli Gardens in Italy and the Serralves Park in Portugal, fills us with pride. As the first Belgian historic gardens to be recognized in this way, we celebrate the visionary work of Jules Buyssens and René Pechère, who successively designed these exceptional spaces under the watchful eye of Alice van Buuren. This recognition is also a tribute to landscape architect Anne-Marie Sauvat and the Atelier Eole, whose expertise was crucial in restoring the gardens. The European Route of Historic Gardens has carefully assessed the cultural and artistic value of our gardens, as well as our commitment to their preservation. We are grateful to the Brussels-Capital Region for its determination to help us preserve this unique heritage. We continue to raise public awareness of the cultural and environmental richness of these heritage gardens while drawing inspiration from the other sites in this prestigious network. This award reinforces our motivation as we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2025“, concludes Jacques Bedoret. »

« Joining the European Route of Historic Gardens is an important step in our journey to preserve and celebrate the van Buuren Museum & Gardens,” adds Manon Magotteaux, Curator. ” As Curator, I am delighted to see that our efforts to restore and preserve these historic green gems are now being recognized internationally. The van Buuren Museum & Gardens embody much more than spaces of exceptional beauty; they reflect history, creativity and the profound relationship between humanity and nature. This recognition strengthens our determination to continue our relentless commitment to preserving the relevance of these gardens as a source of inspiration for generations to come. We are delighted to share the richness of this heritage with the whole of Europe, while continuing to forge the link between society and culture through these historic treasures. »

It should be noted that the book ‘Jules Buyssens and Le Nouveau Jardin Pittoresque‘ directed by Eric Hennaut and Ursula Wieser Benedetti, published in the same year 2023 by CIVA, Centre for Information, Documentation and Exhibitions on the city, architecture, landscape and Urban Planning in the Brussels-Capital Region, describes the work of Jules Buyssens (1872-1958), a key figure in the world of garden and landscape design in Belgium. He designed parks and gardens for the international aristocracy and wealthy bourgeoisie, as van Buuren family, and was commissioned by several town councils and, during the interwar period, devised charming urban gardens, combining the picturesque with the Art Deco style. In addition to initiating the movement and the magazine Le Nouveau Jardin Pittoresque, he was also the landscape architect of the city of Brussels (1904-1937) and responsible for the landscape design of the International Exposition at the Heysel in 1935.