Best for
Garden lovers, families wanting a calmer break from the zoo
Time needed
1–1.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes — a genuinely historic garden with real botanical significance
Skip if
Gardens and greenhouses don't interest you, or your time in the Plantage is very limited
About Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam was founded in 1638 as a medicinal herb garden for the city's physicians and apothecaries, at a time when correctly identifying plants was literally a matter of life and death for anyone practising medicine. Its role expanded dramatically through Amsterdam's Golden Age as the VOC's global trade network brought back exotic plant specimens from Asia, Africa and the Americas, and the garden became a genuine hub for scientific botanical exchange between European colonial powers.
That colonial-era plant trade left a remarkable legacy still growing on site: a cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii) planted around 1683, reputedly grown from a specimen smuggled out of what's now South Africa, making it one of the oldest potted plants in the world and a genuine living link to the garden's earliest decades. The garden's Palm House and Three-Climate Greenhouse (Drieklimatenkas) recreate desert, subtropical and tropical conditions under one roof, housing a butterfly greenhouse that's a particular favourite with children.
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At just under 1.2 hectares, it's compact compared to major botanical gardens elsewhere, but the density of historically significant specimens — over 6,000 plant species and varieties in total — packs a lot into a modest footprint, with informative labelling that rewards visitors who actually read as they walk rather than just admiring greenery.
Sitting directly beside Artis, Micropia and the Verzetsmuseum in the Plantage quarter, it's easy to combine into a full day without much extra walking, and offers a genuinely calmer, quieter pace than the zoo next door.
What to See: Highlights
- 1One of the world's oldest botanical gardens, founded 1638
- 2A cycad planted around 1683, reputedly smuggled from colonial South Africa
- 3The Three-Climate Greenhouse recreating desert, subtropical and tropical zones
- 4A butterfly greenhouse popular with children
- 5Over 6,000 plant species and varieties across a compact site
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Insider Tips
Don't miss the 1683 cycad — it's easy to walk past without knowing its significance
The butterfly greenhouse is a highlight for children
Much quieter and calmer than Artis next door — a good pace change
Combine with Artis, Micropia and the Verzetsmuseum for a full Plantage day
The on-site café/orangery is a pleasant stop for a coffee break
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Getting There
Plantage Middenlaan 2a, 1018 DD Amsterdam
Open in Google Maps →- 1Tram 14 to Artis/Plantage, 5-minute walk.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're interested in botanical or colonial-trade history
- You want a calmer, quieter stop after visiting Artis
- You're travelling with children who'd enjoy the butterfly greenhouse
- You're already exploring the Plantage quarter
Skip if...
- Gardens hold little interest for you
- Your Plantage time is limited and you're prioritising Artis or Micropia instead
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Amsterdam
Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum)
A vivid, object-driven account of how ordinary Dutch people resisted, collaborated with, or simply endured Nazi occupation — one of Amsterdam's most underrated WWII museums.
Micropia
The world's first museum entirely dedicated to microbes — bacteria, viruses and the invisible organisms that outnumber humans by trillions — next to Artis Zoo.
Artis Royal Zoo
The Netherlands' oldest zoo, open since 1838, with an aquarium and planetarium included in one ticket — home to over 700 species across leafy 19th-century grounds in the Plantage quarter.