Hortus Botanicus

Founded in 1638, the Hortus Botanicus is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world — a green oasis in the Plantage that began as a medicinal herb garden and grew with plants brought back by Dutch traders from across the globe.

What to see

In the historic glasshouses you can move from humid jungle to desert and the South African Cape within minutes; look out for the year-round butterfly house and the giant Victoria water lily.

It's compact and calm — a welcome change of pace if you've had your fill of museums.

Good to know

It's a short walk from ARTIS, so the two pair well; reckon on about an hour. The I amsterdam City Card includes entry.

Some glasshouses may be closed for renovation from time to time, so check the official site before you go.

The Palm House adds an architectural highlight to the garden: its tall windows and distinctive roof were designed to accommodate plants that need protection from the Dutch winter. Among the Hortus’s most remarkable specimens is an ancient cycad, a plant whose palm-like appearance disguises a very different botanical lineage. Looking beyond the flowers to trunks, leaf shapes and growth patterns reveals another side of the collection, where unusual adaptations can be just as striking as colour.

Make the garden part of a walk through the Plantage rather than treating it as an isolated stop. Nearby, the Jewish Cultural Quarter offers a different perspective on the neighbourhood through the Portuguese Synagogue and Jewish Museum. For time outdoors, continue towards Wertheimpark and its Auschwitz Monument, a place for quiet reflection. The contrast between botanical collections, leafy streets and places of remembrance gives this corner of Amsterdam a character quite distinct from the busy canal routes.