Geographical Arboretum of Tervuren

The arboretum is open to the public and freely accessible from sunrise to sunset. Please respect and preserve this unique piece of nature ...

As early as 1902, work began on the construction of the Geographical Arboretum of Tervuren in the Capuchin Forest, which takes its name from a monastic order that was established there from 1626 to 1796. The forest was almost entirely cleared for agricultural purposes between 1822 and 1843, but was purchased plot by plot by Leopold II between 1835 and 1909. It was reforested from 1875 onwards. In 1903, the monarch bequeathed the domain as a Royal Donation to the state, in order to "preserve open natural spaces, particularly near large cities, for aesthetic and health reasons".
The domain is 310 ha in size. More than 400 different tree species from all over the world were planted, in the form of miniature forests that are characteristic of the normal biotope of the plants in question.

I can't resist and must quote a short quatrain from the incomparable humorist Heinz Erhardt (1909-1979), who was known to a wide audience – especially in German-speaking countries – for his wordplay and "Another Poem":
"Trees, trees, nothing but trees,
and in between – spaces.
But behind them, you won't believe it:
Another tree!"
(H. Erhardt)