Hortus Botanicus - Botanic Gardens, Amsterdam

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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.

This is one of the oldest botanical garden in the world (from 1638). It's a living museum with some plants more than 300 years old. I was very surprised to see the Welwidschia-plant from the desert of Namibia (you will find a picture in my Namibia-travelogue)

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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.

We enjoyed the bontanical gardens. They were beautiful and very serene. They had some interesting plants that I'd never heard of before and a butterfly house. All in all, a nice respite from what can otherwise be a hectic day of sightseeing.

One of the oldest botanic gardens in the world.

Different tropical greenhouses (lovely on a cold day), gardens & a small butterfly house.

The Hortus Botanicus is a great place to spend an hour or two in Amsterdam! It is a botanical garden with great old atriums! Also, a nice break from the overwhelming hordes of people on the street!

At the Hortus Botanicus is a small greenhouse full of butterflies! Very intimate and very full of butterflies! Fascinating!!

These Gardens are very beautiful, I went in April 2003 when it was Spring and all the flowers were so bright, great for taking pictures.