Clusius Foundation



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Mission

The Clusius Foundation is named after Carolus Clusius (Charles de l’Écluse, 1526-1609), humanist, botanist and founder of the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden. The Foundation has as its goal to further the interest in the historical and cultural aspects of the garden, the landscape and botany, and to supply them with a scientific base. Therefore the Foundation follows the growing interest in horticulture. It organizes international symposia and an annual Clusius Lecture with renowned speakers. It has also created a Japanese garden in the Leiden Hortus Botanicus and has recreated the original botanical garden from the 16th century to celebrate its 400 year jubilee in 1990. On the initiative of the Foundation the University of Leiden has created a Special Chair for the study of the history of garden and landscape architecture.

The culture of nature has received the necessary attention in the Netherlands and has developed a peculiar own style throughout the centuries. From recent discussions and the ubsidy policy of the government and from the many congresses on this area one may find out how important it is to gain more knowledge on the cultural historical significance of the Dutch landscape, also in international context. The necessity for further study of the Dutch garden and landscape architecture shows itself in the problems in the management, maintenance and restoration of historical estates, urban parks and gardens. Furthermore, increasingly more garden and landscape architects have developed themselves within the fields of planology and urban planning into a professional group of their own. There is also a growing public interest in this subject based on the questions that arise from a growing sense of environmental responsibility. Among the various groups of interested individuals there exists a great need for the acquisition and sharing of knowledge.

The Clusius Foundation is completely dependent on private funds, gifts, legacies and appointments of heir to finance its activities. By means of a periodical or single contribution one may express one’s affinity with the study and sharing of knowledge of the historical, cultural and international aspects of gardens and landscapes. The Foundation serves the benefit of the community and is therefore designated as such in Article 24 paragraph 4 of the Inheritance Act of 1956. This makes gifts fiscally favourable. Donors are involved with activities such as lectures, symposia and special events.



Von Siebold Memorial Garden, Hortus Botanicus, Leiden

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