Herbarium Frisicum

Herbarium Frisicum is a Dutch botanical foundation and one of Europe's largest private collections of dried plants, holding more than 150,000 herbarium specimens. It was founded in 1979 by Karst Meijer, inspired by Mr. Van der Ploeg, and is based in Wolvega, Friesland. The collection was moved from Friesland to Drenthe in 2013 and returned to Friesland in November 2014. The herbarium is registered in the Index Herbariorum under the code HFN and has received the regional Stellingwarf quality mark. The organization's goals include collecting both old and new dried plant collections and preserving them for the future, maintaining and expanding current collections, contributing to scientific research, transferring knowledge, and contributing to cultural awareness. Fieldwork is conducted in spring, summer, and autumn, while winter is mainly devoted to archiving. The herbarium is accessible to visitors by appointment and can be used by biology students for research. The collection includes mosses, lichens, and several special herbaria, such as the Jewish Herbarium, the Seaweed Herbarium, and the Pharmacy Herbarium. The oldest herbarium is the Marine Herbarium from 1854. The collection also includes a 'wet' collection of plants preserved in strong alcohol. With improved DNA techniques, DNA material can be extracted from dried plants, making the herbarium a DNA repository that may help reintroduce species. About one hundred Frisian cultivated plants are included, among them forty varieties of Frisian potatoes added to the wet collection. The collection mostly comes from private individuals, but university collections also go to Wolvega; for example, at the end of 2019 a special collection of potato varieties from Radboud University Nijmegen arrived. In 2020, part of Herbarium Frisicum was transferred to the Frisian Agricultural Museum. Herbarium Frisicum organizes events and lectures, including an annual Herbarium Weekend; the 2026 edition is scheduled for 7 and 8 November. It also maintains online resources and exchange programs, such as Herbarium Exchange, and focuses on bramble flora of Friesland, living heritage, and the genera Rosa, Rubus, Salix, and Taraxacum. The foundation is located at Schoolstraat 19B, 8471 CC Wolvega, and can be contacted by phone or email.

Herbarium Frisicum was founded in 1979 by Karst Meijer, who was inspired by Mr. Van der Ploeg. It began as a private collection of dried plants and grew over the decades into one of Europe's largest private herbaria, with more than 150,000 specimens. The collection was moved from Friesland to Drenthe in 2013, and in November 2014 it returned to Friesland, where it is now housed in Wolvega. The herbarium is organized as a foundation (Stichting Herbarium Frisicum) and is registered in the Index Herbariorum under the code HFN. It has received the regional Stellingwarf quality mark. Over time, the herbarium expanded its scope to include not only dried plants but also a wet collection preserved in strong alcohol, as well as special collections such as the Jewish Herbarium, the Seaweed Herbarium, and the Pharmacy Herbarium. The oldest specimen is the Marine Herbarium from 1854. The collection has been enriched by donations from private individuals and universities; for example, at the end of 2019, a special collection of potato varieties from Radboud University Nijmegen was added. In 2020, part of Herbarium Frisicum was transferred to the Frisian Agricultural Museum. The herbarium also serves as a center for botanical research and education. It organizes events and lectures, including an annual Herbarium Weekend, to share knowledge about plants and their conservation. Fieldwork is conducted in spring, summer, and autumn, while winter is mainly devoted to archiving. The herbarium is accessible to visitors by appointment and can be used by biology students for research. With improved DNA techniques, DNA material can be extracted from dried plants, making the herbarium a DNA repository that may help reintroduce species. About one hundred Frisian cultivated plants are included, among them forty varieties of Frisian potatoes added to the wet collection.

• 2026

  Annual Herbarium Weekend scheduled for 7 and 8 November.

• 2020

  Part of Herbarium Frisicum transferred to the Frisian Agricultural Museum.

• 2019

  Special collection of potato varieties from Radboud University Nijmegen added at the end of the year.

• 2014

  Collection moved back to Friesland in November.

• 2013

  Entire collection moved from Friesland to Drenthe.

• 1979

  Herbarium Frisicum founded by Karst Meijer.

One of Europe's largest private collections of dried plants, combining historical herbaria with modern botanical research and education.

• Dried plant specimens

• Wet collection (plants in strong alcohol)

• Jewish Herbarium

• Seaweed Herbarium

• Pharmacy Herbarium

• Marine Herbarium (1854)

• Frisian potato varieties collection

1. 1Alle herbariumcollecties - Herbarium Frisicum - plantenstudieherbariumfrisicum.nl
2. 2Impressum - Herbarium Frisicum - plantenstudieherbariumfrisicum.nl
3. 3Herbarium Frisicumwikidata.org
4. 4Herbarium Frisicumfy.wikipedia.org