Groups
Visiting the museum with friends, colleagues or family? Groups can choose from the group tour offerings. They also enjoy a discount on the admission fee. With a Museum Pass, you can visit the museum in a group for free.
Guided Tour of Museum Hof van Busleyden – At home in Burgundian Mechelen
A guide introduces you to the world of the Burgundian period and takes you through the permanent exhibition at Museum Hof van Busleyden. Along the way you will meet various residents who lived in the city at the height of the Burgundian Netherlands: from the host, Hiëronymus van Busleyden, to the grande dame, Margaret of Austria, her cousin Charles V, and the reclusive Sisters Hospitalliers. Experience the unparalleled craftsmanship of local artists and admire the finest art of the Northern Renaissance.
Practical Info on Guided Tours
- The price per guided tour is 90 euro (excluding admission tickets).
- A maximum of 15 participants per group.
- The guided tour of the permanent exhibition takes 90 minutes.
- Admission is free with a Museum Pass. You pay only for the guided tour.
Museum Hof van Busleyden Garden Tour
A Stroll Through Lush Renaissance Gardens
Around Museum Hof van Busleyden you will find a green oasis composed of three walled museum gardens. They are inspired by the opulent gardens of the Renaissance. Five hundred years ago Hiëronymus van Busleyden built his grand residence here. With a guide, you will explore these gardens, where something new is in bloom every day
It is not for nothing that the main courtyard - hortus catalogus or scientific garden - is a tribute to Mechelen's botanist Rembert Dodoens. Many of the plants from his 1554 Herbal Book (Kruidenboek) can be seen here. In springtime we see a succession of blooms from snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and thousands of tulips. In summer we see a vibrant display of summer flowers.
Through the colonnade and past the carillon, we walk towards the second inner garden. It is a place of pleasure, a hortus ludi or garden of delights. Here, you will find rare plant species that reference the precious collections of plants, corals and animals gathered by humanists over the centuries. To conclude, the guide will take you to the contemporary meditation garden, an intimate space for reflection and tranquillity.
Practical Information
- From 1 April to 31 October, daily
- Please note, this tour is outdoors. Dress appropriately for the weather.
- The price is 90 euros per tour. Free entry to the garden. The tour does not include a visit to the museum.
- The tour takes 60 minutes
- A maximum of 15 participants per guide.
- To combine your walk with a tour of the museum, or for another practical question: Contact groepsbezoekhvb@mechelen.be
- To have lunch as a group in the museum coffee bar: Reserve at info@hvbmuseum-shop-koffiebar.be
- Please note that the museum and coffee bar are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Behind the scenes: guided tour of Depot Rato
During a visit to Depot Rato, you will discover Mechelen's heritage and learn all about its preservation. You will marvel at racks full of paintings and sculptures and travel back in time while admiring archaeological finds and historical objects. But you will also see how a restorer restores a work of art with great precision and come face to face with the giant Mechelen family. Please note: Depot Rato is located in Muizen.
Practical Information
- The price per tour is 200 euros.
- Maximum 15 participants
- The guided tour lasts 90 minutes
- Max. three tours per day, three times a week.
- For any practical questions please contact groepsbezoekhvb@mechelen.be.
