Artis, the Royal Zoological Society 'Natura Artis Magistra', was founded on 1 May 1838, at the initiative of the book dealer G.F.Westerman. Its purpose was: 'to promote the knowledge of Natural History, in a clear and agreeable way; both by assembling an extensive collection of living animals and by displaying mounted exhibits from the animal kingdom.' In the first half of the 19th century, the combination of a zoo, scientific collections, a Zoological Laboratory and Museum as well as the academically exceptional Artis Library, was quite unique. Since 1988 visitors to Artis have free access to the Zoological Museum's exhibition halls. The addition of the Planetarium (1988) and the Geological Museum (1992) completes Artis's story on life. The presentations in the Planetarium take audiences on a fascinating trip through time, right back to the birth of the universe itself. The Geological Museum shows how the Earth has developed and provides insights into the ancient ancestors of present day life forms...

The five elements that make up present day Artis are each represented in the logo: (on top of this page) Artis as a Zoo  and Aquarium, Botanical gardens, Zoological Museum, Geological Museum  and Planetarium. This unique combination meets Artis's primary objective: offering educational material to broad segments of the population. Material that deals with our planet Earth as a unique place in the universe, worthy of the greatest care and respect...

Artis, the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, founded in 1838, shows its historical character even before you walk through the gates: two golden eagles are perched proudly atop the main entrance. (left pic) People enjoy the 19th-century (right pic) atmosphere of the gardens: the winding paths, majestic trees, the fascinating sculptures and the monumental historical buildings. Artis is a haven of peace and quiet right in the city centre of Amsterdam... Artis is a fascinating zoo. In an area of 14 hectares around 700 species of animals provide a magnificent overview of the entire animal kingdom. Amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, mammals and insects... all are superbly represented. Artis's renowned Aquarium brings you face to face with… the secret life of Amsterdam's canals! Around the zoo you'll find many more Dutch and European animal  and plant  species, as well as more exotic ones. You can also come to quench your thirst for knowledge at the Planetarium, the museums and all kinds of smaller exhibitions...

Its atmospheric, 19th century character with ponds, ancient formal gardens and trees makes Artis ideally suited to the casual stroller. Alongside the Predator Gallery, the original design of an English stately home garden gives way to the Classical 'French Gardens' (laid out in 1891), called the Dutch Garden. The eight-meter high Westerman monument commemorates Artis's founder. Marble statues of the Four Seasons border this geometrical garden. Few zoos are as well endowed with listed buildings as Artis. Twenty of these historical monuments bear diamond-shaped plaques with an inscription from a bygone age. Some examples are the Large Museum (1855), the Library building (1867) and the Aquarium (1882). The romantic Masmanhuisje predates the foundation of Artis (1838). It now houses the ibises. The stroll is made even more romantic by a visit to the two, larger than life, 18th century Bodhisatva statues (also known as Buddhas). These were brought to Artis from Japan more than a century ago... 

In addition to being a zoo, Artis is also a botanical garden. Although many of the plants and trees in Artis are native to the Netherlands, many species have been gathered from all over the world, just like the animal species in Artis. As they wander through the zoo, visitors to Artis get a good impression of the diversity of plants, trees and shrubs that make up the plant kingdom. Those species of plants that are not at home in our climate are to be found in greenhouses and heated buildings.(left pic below) Tulips and other bulbsEvery year, from January to about May, thousands of bulbs bloom in Artis. (right pic below) These may emerge, like their wild forebears, from areas of grass or between bushes - or they may have been carefully planted out in the flowerbeds and flower tubs. In addition to the familiar tulips, daffodils and crocuses, there are also less well-known species such as the yellow star of Bethlehem, alpine squill, iris and glory of the snow. Even in the winter you can find bulbous plants in bloom, such as the common meadow saffron and the saffron...

Plants have a very important place at Artis . The Succulents Greenhouse contains cacti and agaves from America, as well as African euphorbia. These plants all grow in natural habitats which are subject to protracted periods of drought. The Tropical Greenhouse with its many eye-catching climbing plants and epiphytes (plants which grow on other plants) is warm and humid. These plants give us an insight into the 'fight for light' which is typical of tropical rainforests. The Morass Greenhouse is home to a collection of carnivorous plants. These plants are mostly found in marshy areas which are low in nitrogen. They satisfy part of their nutritional requirements by feeding on insects, spiders and other lower animals. They catch their prey in special snares, such as cuplike or self-rolling leaves. The plants shown in the beautiful brand new Tropics Greenhouse give an authentic impression of the lush vegetation to be found in the mountainous regions of Borneo...

Artis contains more than 200 different species of trees. Some of the trees predate Artis itself. One such example is the common oak next to the outdoor chimpanzee enclosure. This tree has been estimated to be about 250 years old. Like most oaks in temperate regions, this oak loses its leaves in the winter. At the Goat Rock (left pic) there is an evergreen live oak, which is unusual since this species is a native of the Mediterranean region. This tree can just about survive the occasional hard winter here in the western region of the Netherlands. Another unusual tree is the Japanese nut tree or ginkgo. This species, which has been around for 180 million years, occurs naturally in the temperate regions of Asia. In China, these trees were often planted in the grounds of temples. This was probably why two ginkgos were planted near the statue of the Bodhisattva (right pic) in the Japanese Stone Garden...

This popular haven of tranquillity, inspired by Japanese garden architecture and the story of the Garden of Eden and the fundamental yearning for a life in harmony with nature, was designed by artist Wim Tap. A twisting waterway forms the unifying element in the Japanese Stone Garden. The water flows from a bowl-shaped stone source into the stream. All the big stones in this garden are made of basalt and are therefore volcanic in origin. The solidified lava symbolizes energy that has been compacted. In this peaceful paradise, the Japanese Bodhisattva sits in repose at the foot of two Japanese nut trees (Gingko biloba). This ancient tree variety came into being as long as 180 million years ago. In the autumn, its fan-shaped leaves turn a lovely golden-yellow hue...

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