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Tervuren and the Africa Museum
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Tervuren is synonymous with greenery, and the Africa Museum too
Yes there are trees and an arboretum in Tervuren, but it is also home to the Museum of Central Africa, an important legacy of King Leopold II, who gave Brussels a new look.
In Tervuren our themes are greenery and culture. Arboretum aside, everything lies at one location. It is best to start with the arboretum. If you have come from Brussels and are on the beautiful Tervurenlaan you will see a sign to your right to the 'arboretum'. Follow the arrows and you will arrive at the entrance at the St Jan crossroads.
The arboretum (Capuchin Woods) covers an area of about 100 hectares and has more than 400 tree varieties. It is divided into two parts: the new and old world. If you have come in the car, go back the way you came and get back on Tervurenlaan. At the end follow the direction for Louvain and you will see the Africa Museum on the right-hand side. If you are on foot you can walk through Isabelladreef to Tervuren Park and the Africa Museum.
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Tervuren Park and the Africa Museum
This is a beautiful park which can get extremely busy on beautiful weekend days. Behind the park and its many ponds and statues we have the Zoniënwoud. From a distance you also have a beautiful view of the museum, built by Leopold II. He commissioned the building of this museum after the successful and controversial 'Colonial Exhibition' of 1897.
As with many of the buildings commissioned by Leopold II, it was King Albert I who had to officially open them. The Royal Museum for Central Africa has been under new management for a few years, which has given it a new breath of life. The corny aspects are gradually disappearing and making way for new and modern initiatives, and the temporary exhibitions are among these. The museum has a lot to offer on the cultures of the inhabitants of Central Africa.
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Picture: © iStockphoto.com/Franky De Meyer
Text: GVDV/RD - © AT-Europe bvba
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