Tanja: Up Close
- ARTIS-Groote Museum
October 17, 2025 to May 10, 2026
The exhibition explores the relationship between humans and animals. The love and connection visitors feel or once felt for Tanja reflect the depth of our bond with animals. It is this connection that makes Tanja a living symbol of the changing way we view nature.
Then and now
How did animals come to ARTIS in the past? How were they cared for, and how has that changed over time? Why was Tanja the last hippopotamus at ARTIS? And why was she preserved after her death? Through the story of Tanja and her predecessors, the history of ARTIS becomes tangible, revealing the major transformations that have taken place. From an era when seeing a hippopotamus was a rare wonder to a world filled with nature documentaries.
View on the Hippopotamus
The relationship between humans and hippos has changed over the centuries. Hippos have been hunted for their ivory and are threatened by habitat loss. In regions where they once thrived, they have now almost disappeared, humans are their greatest enemy. In the storyline “A Look at the Hippopotamus,” visitors discover at a glance how perceptions of hippos have evolved through the ages: from symbols of fertility to vulnerable species.
Life after death
How do animals continue to inspire even after their death? In the Cabinet of Taxidermy, visitors can discover through the story of Tanja how the art of taxidermy works and why ARTIS practices it. From tools and techniques to the preservation of creatures both small and large, this cabinet offers a behind-the-scenes look at the ARTIS collection managers. It’s a unique opportunity to see how preserved animals remain part of nature’s ongoing story.
