Rare plants and collections
Among the historic trees and flowerbeds, countless rare plants from all over the world are growing. Each species tells a story about its origin, its ability to adapt, and the connection between humans and nature. The plant collections in ARTIS are carefully maintained and together form a green treasure trove of knowledge. Here, you can learn how plants sustain ecosystems, how they have evolved, and why their preservation is vital for the future of our planet.
- 700 trees
- 300 species
- 1 oldest tree of Amsterdam
Science and conservation
Botanical gardens play an important role worldwide in researching biodiversity and conserving endangered species. ARTIS is connected with universities, research institutes, and international networks to share knowledge and help restore ecosystems. After all, when you restore a natural area, you do so not only with animals, but also with the plants that belong there. Animals depend on plants, and plants on animals. That is the story we tell here, between the roots and the canopy.
Underneath your feet
'Beneath the ground, too, lies a world full of connections. At ARTIS, research has been conducted on fungi and mushrooms that live in symbiosis with tree roots; essential partners in healthy soils. In this way, the ARTIS collection not only helps to preserve what grows, but also to understand how everything in nature is interconnected.' Ton Hilhorst (Garden Designer)
Unique Garden Design
Kerbertterras
In ARTIS-Park, every plant, tree, and stone tells a story, even through the garden design itself. On the Kerbert Terrace, the landscape of an island has been recreated, with a clear distinction between the wet and dry sides. This contrast can be found on almost every island in the world: one side lush and humid, the other home to plants that thrive in dry conditions.
The dry side of the island
On the dry side live the ring-tailed lemurs, finding their home among shrubs and rocky vegetation. On the wet side, you experience a completely different atmosphere, cool, green, and full of life. With this design, ARTIS aims not only to show a landscape but to evoke the feeling of an entire ecosystem.
The wet side of the island
Every plant in this part of the park is carefully selected and tested, not only for its beauty but also for its suitability for the animals that live there. In this way, a living balance emerges between animal, plant, and environment, where nature reveals its great interconnectedness on a small scale.
Celebrate the seasons in ARTIS
Summer, autumn, winter, spring — experience ARTIS-Park in every season!
