Stay warm during the winter at ARTIS. Illustration: Eveline Schram
Stay warm during the winter at ARTIS
– Nov. 24, 2021
From 1 December to 31 January ARTIS will be immersed in a winter atmosphere. Not only will the forecourt be attractively illuminated, but all sorts of winter activities will also be organized. Lovers of the cold can join a winter outdoor tour, while the more adventurous can hop along the warm indoor quarters during the special winter scavenger hunt. In between activities, you can warm yourself up with winter delicacies such as pea soup, poffertjes and hot chocolate. Visit ARTIS during the winter months and stay warm through the winter.
Warm up through the winter with the scavenger hunt
Just like animals, plants and microbes, humans sometimes thrive better in warm conditions. With a scavenger hunt through the indoor enclosures you will not only warm yourself up, but with the help of questions and assignments you will also discover how nature adapts to the different seasons. For the microscopically small bears this is a piece of cake, while various birds prepare themselves intensively with a diet of fatty fish.
Snow monkey and Christmas rose
Although many trees are losing their leaves and the 130,000 bulbs in the ground are patiently waiting for spring, there is also much to see in the ARTIS Park garden in winter. Snowdrops, Christmas roses, barnyard cabbages and sprouts are celebrating high. Many animals are also adapting to winter temperatures. The coat of the Japanese macaque, also known as the snow monkey, protects the animal from temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius. On a winter walk through the park, the tour guides tell you all about the adaptability of animals, plants and microbes in winter.
Is there such a thing as a winter starry sky?
Does the starry sky actually look different in winter than in summer? What planets can you find in the sky yourself? And what is the astronomical background of Christmas and other winter holidays? During a presentation in the ARTIS-Planetarium you can take a journey through space along all the planets and stars, from the comfort of your armchair.
Warm up in the inside enclosure of the microbes: ARTIS-Micropia
During the treasure hunt, you can also pay a visit ARTIS-Micropia, the world's only museum where the invisible world of microorganisms is made visible. For humans it is nice and warm in the museum, but many microbes do not need this to survive. In fact, a water bear can even survive in a temperature of -270 degrees Celsius. Only in the month of December Micropia is still free for children up to 17 years old.
Practical information
You can visit ARTIS from Wednesday 1 December until Monday 31 January. ARTIS is open every day, including weekends and Christmas vacations, from 09:00 to 17:00. Regular opening hours also apply on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25 and 26 December). Only on 31 December does the ARTIS Park close a little earlier at 16:00 and reopen on 1 January from 10:00.
ARTIS-Micropia will be open every day from 10:00 - 17:00 from 1 December. Also on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25 and 26 December) the regular opening hours apply. Only on 31 December will ARTIS-Micropia close at 16:00. On 1 January, the museum will open again at 10:00.