Permanent Exhibition

Living Planet

Did you know that the gnu and the zebra eat the same plants? But they don’t fight about it! The gnu eats the young sprouts that are soft and juicy while the zebra chews on tougher leaves. And did you know that a thirsty camel can drink up to 150 litres of water? And that wildfires can be beneficial for some trees?

Living Planet represents more than 850 specimens displayed on 2,000m² (from the giraffe, to the koala and the aphid), 3D models you can touch, visual media, audio interviews and interactive, recreational and educational animations. The Earth is swarming with life - rediscover it in our new Gallery, Living Planet, through an aesthetic, family-friendly and scientific approach to biodiversity.

There are also two discovery areas: the "Tetrapodium," about the skeletons of four-legged animals, and the "Arthropodium," about animals with six or more legs. There, you can peer through a microscope, observe live specimens, watch videos and 3D models, and participate in playful activities.

All ages
Approximately 2 hours
Included in the entry ticket
Points 15, 16, 17 and 18 on the map

Remarkable Elements

The Arthropodium

Insects, spiders, scorpions, crustaceans, millipedes...: meet animals with 6 or more legs in the Arthropodium.

The Tetrapodium

Welcome to the Tetrapodium... an ideal introduction to the four-legged animal world.

An Abundant Planet

On the upper floor of the gallery, Living Planet explains the complex relationships these species have with one another and with their environment. Each species plays an important role and has its place in this web of life.

A Changing Planet

Visiting the lower floor of Living Planet helps you understand the issues linked to climate change and the biodiversity crisis we are facing and that concerns us all.

Scientific research and collections

Biodiversity in a changing world

Research theme: with taxonomy we study the three main levels of biodiversity (genes and genomes, populations and species, communities and ecosystems) and this in the three major habitat realms.

Vertebrate Collections

Animal specimens in the recent vertebrates collection have been gathered for over 175 years from around the world. The collection is rich in historical and type specimens, including from species that are endangered or extinct today.

Entomology Collections

Discover our largest collection: that of insects, spiders, mites and centipedes. They have been collected since the 19th century, both in Belgium and far beyond. The entomological collections bring to the fore a largely hidden but crucial animal group.

To science