Hortus Botanicus

The Hortus Botanicus is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, nearly 400 years old. Stroll through the greenhouses and wander the leafy gardens. Don’t miss the Butterfly house!

HORTUS BOTANICUS • A LEAFY GREEN OASIS IN AMSTERDAM

De Hortus is open every day of the year. In springtime, come see the flowers and in winter, enjoy the warmth of the greenhouses and imagine you are on a tropical holiday. In the Drieklimatenkas you can even walk on an elevated path along the treetops.

We recently visited Hortus with Canon photography workshop and tested out one of their cameras with a macro lens. It was so much fun to capture photos of the flowers and plants with the fancy camera. Photographers, be sure to visit this spot to practice your skills on the plants.

The Hortus cafe De Oranjerie is a centuries-old monument building nestled in the Hortus Botanicus gardens. It was built in 1875 as a lecture hall and the name refers to its use as a place to shelter citrus plants in the wintertime. Visitors to the botanical gardens can enjoy a drink or meal here surrounded by exotic plants. Hortus also hosts tours and events and in the gardens, check the program for information. In July and August, concerts are hosted in the garden. And be sure to visit the Hortus on Museumnacht, it’s super romantic.

Hortus is close to Natura Artis Magistra, the zoo, which also has beautiful 19th century buildings and lush gardens. Science geeks should not miss a visit to Micropia as well!

Perhaps you’ve wondered how the Hortus keeps their beautiful tropical greenhouses so warm in Amsterdam’s cool weather? There is an innovative project underway! The greenhouses will soon be heated by the excess warmth from the nearby Hermitage Museum, while the colder air from the greenhouses will be pumped back to the Hermitage to help keep the precious artworks cool. WOW!