Collections
The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is devoted to the conservation and the study of the State’s natural science collections.
These huge collections (more than 30 million items) are for research purposes and unavailable to the public. An exquisite part of these collections is on show in the Museum.
- The DaRWIN database is the RBINS main management tool for our scientific collections. You can now browse through our numerous collections in our different conservatories. Every day additional records are added to the application. So do not hesitate and go on an exploration tour past the kilometers of shelves and rows of specimens for yourselves. (This page will be opened in a new window)
- The Insect Collections contain more than 15,000,000 specimens, including tens of thousands type specimens, that are unique and therefore scientifically priceless. (This page will be opened in a new window)
- Collections of Coleoptera Staphylinidae and Biogeography: three biogeographical applications of the use of "Collections of Coleoptera Staphylinidae" databases of the RBINS and the Museum of Natural History of Paris. (This page will be opened in a new window)
- Prof. J.-C. Lions' Oribatid Mite Collection contains specimens gathered in a calcareous massif in southern France and belonging to more than 200 Oritobida taxa. A complete list of Dr Lion’s publications and a survey of elements of classification and phylogeny can be found here as well.
- The Mineralogy Collections started in 1828 and has increased enormously. Its tens of thousands specimens consist of minerals of Belgium and abroad, crystals (Drugman collection), gems, meteorites (including those three found in Belgium), lunar stone, and lots of spares for study or exchange. Available in French - in Dutch