ARTIS-Library historic heritage building
This iconic 19th century building houses a unique collection of books and natural history treasures. A place that blends heritage with science.
The Library’s unique natural history collections have inspired researchers and enthusiasts for many years.
From past to present
- built in
- 1866-1872
- designed by
- G.B. and A. Salm
- formerly
- library, museum, stables for zebras and other equines, the World of Darkness nocturnal animal house
- now
- ARTIS-Library and office spaces
The very last quagga
Until 1920, the first floor of the library was used as a stable for zebras and horses. On 12 August 1883, a quagga died there. The mare had a nut-brown body and stripes on her neck and torso. She appeared to be the last of her species, a subspecies of the plains zebra. Her body was stuffed and became a unique specimen in the Naturalis collection. The former stable now houses the EAZA office.
Two iconic facades
Both facades of the ARTIS-Library are inscribed with the names of 36 scientists who were important to the natural sciences, from Aristotle to Alexander von Humboldt. The facade on the street side displays the names of scholars from antiquity and the 17th and 18th centuries, while the facade on the ARTIS side bears the names of 19th century scientists. The library has books by each of these scientists in its collection, which gave ARTIS a reputation early on as a modern, scientific institution.