Rock garden

Visitors entering the Botanic Gardens are immediately greeted by the Rock garden. Its highest point lies approximately 12 metres above the level of the Fort moat. In terms of both species diversity and size, it is one of the largest rock gardens in Europe.

Construction of the Rock garden began in 1963, on top of the Fort’s casemates. A major advantage was that the casemates themselves already provided differences in elevation. However, 2,100 tonnes of rock still needed to be brought in from the Ardennes to create and 'dress' the Rock garden. As the stones occasionally settle or parts of the Rock garden are redesigned, additional boulders are regularly required. The Rock garden is also home to common wall lizards, which can often be seen basking.

What can you see?

The Rock garden contains a variety of different habitats and environments. To the left of the path leading to the Fort is the Southern Hemisphere bed, featuring a range of remarkable species from South America, southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand. 

You then pass the large rock formation on the Fort’s left casemate. Here you will find dry, sunny slopes, a moist stream bank with, among others, various Primrose species (Primula spp.) and a genuine mountain stream complete with a waterfall. On the right-hand side of the path lies the Mountain forest garden. This area is planted mainly with species that thrive in the acidic, moist soils of mountain forests. 

A particularly special part of the Rock garden is the Atlantic bog, a small fragment of the Netherlands’ original natural landscape. In summer, the Southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) comes into flower here, alongside Sundew (Drosera spec.) and Common cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium).