The restoration of the ARTIS Aquarium

In June 2025, the restoration of the ARTIS Aquarium was completed. In recent years, the building has been restored and future-proofed. The reopening of the Aquarium is scheduled for the first half of 2026.

Four years of restoration completed

ARTIS Aquarium closed

Dating from 1881, the ARTIS Aquarium had been severely affected by salt water from the tanks. To preserve the Aquarium for future generations, ARTIS invested in a large-scale restoration and sustainability upgrade. The ARTIS Aquarium closed in early 2021 for this extensive work. Some of the fish and corals moved to other aquariums in Europe, while the rest have been housed elsewhere in ARTIS Park.

Salt damage

Salt water from the tanks had penetrated the brickwork and even pushed through 1990s finishes to the exterior, visible to visitors. A thorough restoration was necessary to preserve the building for the future. The salt will never fully leave the structure, but with carefully chosen finishes the building has been made future-proof again.

An opportunity to renew

The original design by architect Gerlof Salm was carefully respected throughout the restoration. At the same time, the building now meets today’s standards. The roof is fitted with solar panels, some aquarium tanks are made of self-healing concrete, and historic colours and materials have been brought back wherever possible. The classic Lloyd filtration system ensures healthy living conditions for aquatic life.

After a restoration period of more than four years, Salverda Bouw symbolically handed over the key to ARTIS director Rembrandt Sutorius. This means the Aquarium is ready for the next step: reintroducing aquatic animals and creating spaces that place the importance of water front and centre.

The most sustainable aquarium in the Netherlands

Keeping fresh- and salt-water aquariums at temperature consumes a lot of energy. Bringing together animal welfare and sustainability in a 19th-century aquarium was therefore a major challenge. The roofs, façades and windows have been fully insulated, and the entrance will feature a draught lobby (vestibule) to retain heat. With an ATES (aquifer thermal energy storage) system, the ground beneath the building is used to store heat. Solar panels have been installed on the roofs.

Reopening in 2026!

In the coming months, ARTIS will complete the renewed Aquarium. The focus is on bringing back underwater life—from colourful tropical fish to delicate coral. At the same time, the museum narrative is taking shape: an experience that shows how vital clean, living water is for all life. Visitors will soon journey past oceans, lakes and rivers. Each space highlights a different aspect of biodiversity, ecology and the relationship between people and water.