De teleurgang van de beroemde botanische tuin van Peeter van Coudenberghe

Abstract

SUMMARY: The famous botanical garden of Peeter van Coudenberghe in Borgerhout, near Antwerp, was destroyed by military action sometime at the end of the sixteenth century. Three possible historical episodes, which can account for this destruction, are considered here. In 1579, Alexander Farnese gave his soldiers the permission to plunder all the houses outside the town walls. In 1583, the duke of Alençon created a rebellious uproar near Van Coudenberghe's house. Finally, in 1584-85, Farnese besieged Antwerp and had all plants and crops outside the town walls destroyed. This appears to have been the most probable occasion for the destruction of the botanical garden of Van Coudenberghe.