Provinciaal Bosinfocentrum Het Leen

About the museum

Het Leen is a provincial estate of more than 285 hectares of forest near Eeklo. The buildings of the present forest information centre date from the military past of the estate between 1938 and 1972. In 1993 a forest information centre was set up, while a second building served as a local history museum.

In 2019 the renewed forest information centre opened after about a year of renovation. It is the gateway to the estate, opposite a 20-metre-high lookout tower. The designers reconciled the closed, military style of building with an open, nature-education purpose: metal roof trusses and an industrial look remain visible.

Visitors enter a bright conservatory for temporary exhibitions, with an information desk, lockers and a small nature shop. Behind it runs the permanent exhibition “bos-boom-hout”, and there is a classroom for the estate's nature-education activities.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “bos-boom-hout”
• Bright conservatory for changing exhibitions about the forest
• Information desk and nature shop with nature books and fieldwork equipment
• Free admission and a 20-metre-high lookout tower next to the entrance

Permanent exhibition

• bos-boom-hout – Permanent exhibition about the forest, trees and wood in the forest information centre of Het Leen.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the forest information centre and the arboretum is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The forest information centre is located entirely on the ground floor. Paved walking routes on the estate are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Playground / play area

On the estate there are a playground and a play forest by the car park, a gnome trail, an elf trail and a hands-on walk about trees for children.

Getting there & parking

Address: Gentsesteenweg 80, Eeklo.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Small nature shop in the forest information centre, lockers at the entrance and Brasserie De Bosserie on the estate.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit