ZOO Planckendael

ZOO Planckendael is a zoo in Mechelen . The garden is part of the Royal Society for Zoology Antwerp KMDA which also includes Antwerp Zoo , the Serpentarium in Blankenberge and the De Zegge reserve in Geel . The park follows a continental layout with a themed layout. A striking feature of ZOO Planckendael are the open spaces in the park: some parts of the domain remain untouched, so that you can find wild flowers and plants throughout the year. The domain was owned by the painter Michiel Coxie , in the 16th century, and by his family. Later owners improved the drainage by digging canals and a pond, because the low-lying domain was sensitive to flooding. Large public works amputated the domain on three sides: the Leuvensesteenweg 1736, the digging of the Vaart Mechelen-Leuven canal, 1750-1753 and the railway 1926. The present castle Planckendael was built for Hendrik Moons in 1780. In 1813 the domain was acquired by the noble family of Langhendonck, who expanded it well with stalls and service buildings second half of the 19th century.

In 1956, the Royal Society for Zoology purchased AntwerpKMDA to the Planckendael estate. It is only in 1780 that the estate appears for the first time under the name Planckendael in the archive documents and it is that same year that the castle at the main entrance of the park was built in austere rococo style. In 1960 the park opened its doors to the public. Initially, the domain was used by the Antwerp ZOO as a sort of "country retreat" for the animals: to recover, for breeding programs or if there was a lack of space in Antwerp. Initially, public interest was very poor, and limited resources only allowed for a slow expansion.