What is there
to see?

The botanical garden was founded in 1638 as the Hortus Medicus, to meet the city’s need for herbs and medicinal plants. However, its original purpose was soon expanded. The Dutch East India Company brought exotic plants from all over the world to Amsterdam, allowing amazed visitors a glimpse of the unknown. The Hortus Medicus became the Hortus Botanicus.

Today, the Hortus is one of the oldest surviving botanical gardens in the world and is home to around 6,000 different plants. Small cards and signs display the names of each plant. The Hortus is not only intended as a place of relaxation, but also aims to share knowledge. Visitors wander along winding paths through the 1.2-hectare site. The planted beds change with the seasons, so every visit to the garden offers a fresh experience.

Benches and pavilions invite you to linger, offering lovely spots to let your gaze wander over the many inhabitants of the Hortus. Among the majestic trees, whose shady canopies stretch up into the Amsterdam sky, stands a palm house. Inside, you’ll find an impressive collection of cycads, including one specimen that is over 300 years old.

The agave cactus next door can only smile at that—it was already celebrating birthdays when Emperor Augustus introduced a currency reform in ancient Rome. That was a mere 2,000 years ago. Quite astonishing, isn’t it? 😀

Much younger are the residents of the butterfly house. Children in particular will love it, as colourful, delicate creatures flutter around their heads.

In 1993, the Hortus was expanded with a new glasshouse. The Three-Climate Greenhouse features tropical, subtropical, and desert zones. It covers 1,500 square metres and rises up to 11 metres high. If you’re not afraid of heights, you can walk along an elevated path through the treetops.

If you feel like refreshing yourself after this journey around the globe, the converted orangery with its adjoining terrace offers light snacks and drinks. As you sip your coffee, you might be interested to know that a single coffee plant of the Coffea arabica variety, once brought to Amsterdam, is believed to be the ancestor of nearly all such plants worldwide today. Quite remarkable, isn’t it?

If you’re feeling inspired for your own balcony at home, the Hortus shop has everything you might need— specialist books, plants, flower pots, or simply a souvenir to remember your day in Amsterdam’s green oasis.