A Scoop for Amsterdam: ARTIS Zoo officially recognized for protection of nocturnal darkness
- 20 October 2025
The Royal Zoo ARTIS in Amsterdam has officially been certified as an Urban Night Sky Place by DarkSky International.
ARTIS is the first location in the heart of a European capital to receive this certification—and the first zoo in the world to earn the designation. This recognition honors ARTIS’s commitment to reducing light pollution and highlights the importance of darkness for both nature and people in cities.
When viewed from the air at night, Amsterdam appears as a sea of lights—with one remarkably dark spot: ARTIS Zoo. Located in the center of the city, the park serves as an oasis of darkness where night truly remains night. ARTIS is responsible for the wellbeing of its animals, and a proper night's rest is essential. Both the urban wildlife and the animals cared for by ARTIS benefit from the preservation of nocturnal darkness.
Valuable for a wide audience
Dan Oakley, representative of DarkSky International: “It’s fantastic that ARTIS has been certified as an Urban Night Sky Place. The fact that, in a zoo in the light-filled city of Amsterdam, the night sky is being protected—and its importance explained to the public—is tremendously valuable. This benefits not only residents and visitors but also the animals. Hopefully, other urban zoos will follow ARTIS’s example and more DarkSky locations will be created.”
The Importance of darkness
The Netherlands is among the most light-polluted countries in the world. Artificial lighting in urban areas increases by 10 percent each year, disrupting biological rhythms, disorienting animals, and affecting human health. With this certification, ARTIS serves as an ambassador for darkness, raising awareness about the impact of light pollution on nature.
Starting this winter, ARTIS will organize activities to help visitors experience the beauty of the night. During exclusive evening openings, a limited number of guests can wander through the park, experience the dark with all their senses, and rediscover the stars in ARTIS’ Planetarium
“Darkness plays a crucial role for plants, animals, and humans,” says Savitri Groag, Sustainability Coordinator at ARTIS. “By switching off lights, we return nature’s natural bio-rhythm. This certificate proves that even in the heart of a major city, nocturnal darkness can be protected.”
Note to Editors
Images can be downloaded and used with the accompanying image titles (credits) provided. For more information or interview requests, please contact: communicatie@artis.nl or +31 (0)6 53 738 688
About ARTIS Royal Zoo
ARTIS has been bringing humanity and nature together since 1838. As the Netherlands’ first public zoo – and one of the five oldest in the world – ARTIS has grown to become an inspiring place in the heart of the city to learn about and experience nature. The historic ARTIS Park includes the zoo, botanical garden, and Planetarium. Additionally, ARTIS-Micropia reveals the invisible world of microbes, while the ARTIS-Groote Museum explores the profound connections between humans and nature.
About DarkSky International
DarkSky International works globally to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through responsible outdoor lighting and public education. Since 2001, the International Dark Sky Places Program has encouraged communities, parks, and protected areas to safeguard dark sites through effective lighting policies and community engagement. Artificial light used indiscriminately can disrupt ecosystems, affect human health, waste energy, contribute to climate change, and obscure our view of the universe. There are now more than 230 certified Dark Sky Places worldwide. ARTIS is the first in Europe, the first in a capital city, and the first zoo in the world to receive this designation.
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