Rotterdam Cultural Histories #22: Hortus Botanicus
The building of Kunstinstituut Melly, located at Witte de Withstraat 50 in Rotterdam, stands on the original site of the nineteenth-century Hortus Botanicus (1826-1870). Between 1828 and 1866 the botanical garden was mainly used by the Clinical School of Rotterdam. In 1870, the garden was closed due to the urban development in the area following cholera and tuberculosis epidemics, among other reasons. Immediately afterwards, new roads were constructed, including the Witte de Withstraat, and the surrounding area was built according to the city plan of municipality architect Willem Nicolaas Rose. More info