Re-opening and re-meandering of the Lievenherebeek

As part of ongoing efforts to restore waterways and strengthen the resilience of landscapes to climate change, Meise Botanic Garden is embarking on a major new phase: the reopening and re-meandering of the Lievenherebeek stream.

This stream, also known as the Kaarlijbeek, enters the Garden in the north. Since the 19th century, this stream has been completely channelled to the Amelvonnesbeek, just before the latter disappears under Nieuwelaan and the A12 motorway, within the boundaries of the Garden. Today, part of its course is to be restored to the open air, with a winding route inspired by its natural bed.

This project, designed by landscape architects TAK, is a logical continuation of the previous re-meandering of the Amelvonnesbeek, which was inaugurated in October 2023 at the Botanic Garden as part of the Water+Land+Schap programme. As with its neighbour, the new course of the Lievenherebeek will feature meanders, natural narrowings and the creation of wetlands conducive to biodiversity. The results are often very quick to appear. Following the successful re-meandering of the Amelvonnesbeek, a scientist from Meise Botanic Garden observed several individuals of Calopteryx virgo, a species of dragonfly closely associated with fast-flowing streams, on 12 June, which had never been observed there before.  

The Lievenherebeek will flow into the Orangery Pond below. It will then continue on its way to a small pond before flowing into the Amelvonnesbeek.

The work has been entrusted to the Van Raak company and began in mid-June 2025. The Orangery Pond has also been emptied to allow for the renovation of its partitions and drain. The work is scheduled to be completed in September 2025.

With this open-air restoration, Meise Botanic Garden is continuing its commitment to sustainable water management, serving nature, the landscape and future generations.