Thirty-eight Iguanodon skeletons. Can you imagine that? They’re right here at the Museum for Natural Sciences of Belgium. This isn’t just any museum. It’s a treasure trove of natural history. For nearly two centuries this building has housed millions of specimens. It started as a curiosity cabinet. Prince Charles of Lorraine began it all in 1751. His collection of minerals animals plants and curios filled 300 square meters. Sadly Charles died deeply in debt. His collection was sold. But parts survived. In 1797 it became the Museum of the Central School. It finally opened to the public in 1814.
The Belgian State bought the entire collection in 1846. The Museum for Natural Sciences of Belgium was born. The Russian Collection is a highlight. It comprises 808 minerals and rocks. Prince William II of the Netherlands gifted it. He received it on a trip to Russia. His wife was the sister of Tsar Alexander I. This collection formed the base of the museum’s vast geological collection. It includes meteorites even a rare piece of moon rock.
Then there’s the Chaleux Stone. Discovered in 1865 it’s an artistic masterpiece. Both sides are engraved with drawings of prehistoric animals. A horse a caprid and a reindeer are depicted. The animals lived during the Upper Palaeolithic period. Think 17000 to 12000 years ago. The Lier Mammoth is another star attraction. Unearthed in 1860 its reconstruction is truly remarkable. Louis De Pauw masterfully assembled the skeleton. He even used carved wood to replace missing bones. The mammoth is a reminder of Ice Age giants. This museum has one of the largest collections in Europe.
The Museum for Natural Sciences of Belgium also houses the remains of a thylacine. Also known as the Tasmanian tiger or wolf it’s extinct. Prejudice and ignorance led to its demise. People wrongly believed it threatened sheep. They hunted it to extinction. The museum’s specimen is a rare survival. Its display is carefully controlled to preserve this fragile treasure. The Bernissart Iguanodons are incredibly important. They are housed in a massive glass cage. These thirty near-complete skeletons offer a glimpse into prehistoric times. They were discovered in a coal mine. The telegram announcing the discovery is a fascinating piece of history.
The museum’s history is rich. Its building once housed the Brussels Zoo. But the zoo closed in 1880. The animals were sold or sadly killed. The building then became home to the Museum for Natural Sciences of Belgium. The Museum’s collection also features a Hainosaurus bernardi. It’s one of the largest known mosasaurs. This enormous sea reptile’s skeleton is nearly 12.5 meters long. The Spy Man another remarkable specimen is a Neanderthal skeleton. It represents one of the most recent Neanderthals. It’s a reconstruction from fossil casts.
The Belgica expedition is another fascinating chapter. This Antarctic expedition was the first international scientific endeavor of its kind. It brought back countless new species. It took almost fifty years to study them. A piece of the moon another incredible item resides within the museum’s walls. This fragment was donated by President Nixon. The museum also boasts Messel fossils. They include a Kopidodon macrognathus a small tree-dwelling herbivore. And there’s the petrified forest from Hoegaarden. The Museum for Natural Sciences of Belgium. It’s more than a museum. It’s a journey through time. A journey of discovery.