Hortus Botanicus - Botanic Gardens, Amsterdam

The Hortus is a "living museum" displaying thousands of different species of plants to be found in both the gardens and greenhouses. The garden has lots of different scenes to offer, such as a rock-garden, a pond, a herb garden,a rosarium and many monumental trees.

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The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. The garden was established by the Amsterdam city authority in 1638 as a "Hortus Medicus", a herb garden for the physicians and pharmacists of Amsterdam. The Hortus has occupied its present location in the Plantage district since 1682, and is a green oasis in the middle of the bustling city.

The Hortus is open:
Monday thru Friday 09:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday and holidays 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Hortus is closed at 4:00 p.m. during the months December and January.
The Hortus is open daily until 7:00 p.m. during the months of July and August.
The Hortus is closed on January 1st, September 30th and December 25th. Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the Hortus.

Guided tours
Every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. you can take part in a special guided tour of the garden and greenhouses led by experienced and enthusiastic tour guides.costs € 1,00.booked at least two weeks before.
+31 (0)20 6259021


Entrance fees
Adult € 7,-
City pass/CJP/65+ € 3,50
Child (5-14 years old) € 3,50
City pass child € 1,-
Surcharge drawing in the garden € 1,-

tel: +31 (0)20-625.8411 (recorded message),
fax: +31 (0)20-625.7006

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The Hortus Botanicus of Ámsterdam from 1638 is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the World. Today, it is a garden of delight in the centre of the city. There are over 4.000 plant species in the garden. The greenhouses acomódate plants from six different climates.

El Hortus Botanicus de Ámsterdam que data desde 1638 es uno de los más antiguos jardines botánicos del mundo. Hoy en día, es un jardín de delicias en el centro de la ciudad. Hay más de 4.000 especies de plantas en el jardín. Los invernaderos tienen plantas de seis diferentes climas.

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In 1638 the Amsterdam City Counsil founded a medicinal herb garden. Those herbs were well needed as a medicine to counter the plague epidemic. The Hortus was the training location for doctors and pharmacists to prepare prescriptions.

In the 17th and 18th centuries the VOC ships brought back exotic plants and herbs and soon the Hortus expanded and became a botanical garden in 1682.

In 2003 the Hortus was renovated and the orangery is one of the most beautiful Amsterdam outdoor cafés.

Visiting hours:
Mo - Fri 9AM - 5PM (4PM in Dec/Jan; 9PM in Jul/Aug)
Sa - Su 10AM - 5PM (4PM in Dec/Jan; 9PM in Jul/Aug)

Admission: Euro 7.50

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The Botanic garden of Amsterdam was founded in 1682 and it is one of the oldest in existence. It was originally a medicinal herb garden founded by the city council. Herbs then played a major part in the basis of medicines and Amsterdam had just had a plaque epidemic. Doctors and pharmacists trained in the preparation of medicines at the Hortus. Then in the 17th and 18th century the VOC (the Dutch East India Company) brought not only herbs and spoices to the Hortus but exotic plants. Some of them are still in the Hortus 300 years later, for example the Eastern Cape giant cycad.
The entrance gates were built in 1715 and this is one of the oldest parts of the Hortus. from 1896 to 1918 Professor Hugo de Vries was director of the Hortus and most of the other buildings date from this time. Hugo de Vries was a famous genetics professor, he lived opposite the Hortusand there is also a "Hugo de Vries" gate. Thhis was moved a little so that the professor could enter the gardens opposite his home and not have to walk around the corner. His house has a plaque on it but is a private building.
The Hortus is not large - it covers only 1,2 hectare but it has a large variety of plants. The garden and greenhouses represent 7 differnt climates. Hortus specialises in a number of palnt groups - the cycads, South African palnts, conservatory plants and carnivorous plants.

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It is the first botanic garden in Europe and it is worth it if you like plants. There is a big cristal house with a real jungle inside. Then another cristal housde with butterflies that fly around you! great!

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If you come to Amsterdam in the middle of the Winter like i did - it can be freezing weather - I could idea is to go to a local Bar that serves good "erwtensoep" - which is the Hot Pea Soup - great on a very cold day - and i don't know if it is usual but mine came with spicy sausage also.
Then instead of having a cold Heineken - have a hot coffee - and one or two of local Dutch Gin "Genever" - this will make you feel very nice and warm inside and bring a smile to your face.
Then take a Metro to the Hortus Botanicus (Botanical Gardens) where you can wander round in the heat in the nice Hot Glasshouses
This is what i did
Ps - I think "Hot Waffles" are also served in many places in Amsterdam - can also be nice on a cold day - if you like Waffles (I don't) - however i think you can get them covered in chocolate and everything

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As a person who is very fond of planting, Hortus was the most important location for me when I was planning my trip. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. So I was expecting too much after I read many things about this place and after I saw many flowers all over Amsterdam. But unfortunately we were in February and Amsterdam was too cold. So the pools were frozen and outdoor plants were sleeping when I was visiting Hortus. Then I realized that Hortus has not only an outdoor garden, but also many greenhouses.
Here comes a warning: If it is cold outside, your camera can be foggy when you enter a greenhouse. There is a huge green house at your right after the main entrance. Its doors are strictly closed, because there are many tropical plants in there. The weather inside reminded me hammams of Turkey, because the plants need humidity, too. You can climb some stairs and wander around on a catwalk. This is a nice way to see the huge trees, but do not miss the small plants under them. This greenhouse is divided three different parts inside. They all have different temperature and humidity values. I've seen many plants that I've never seen before.
There is another greenhouse with many butterflies. They were flying around and feeding themselves from the plates full of orange slices. Also there are many cocoons hanging in a windowed partition.
I expected much from the shop of Hortus. I’d like to have seeds some of these amazing plants.
Entrance fee is 6 euro, but free with Iamsterdam card.