In the middle of Amsterdam's bustling city center, you'll find the nearly 400-year-old Botanical Gardens: the Hortus Botanicus.
The garden's original purpose was to grow medicinal plants for pharmacists and physicians.
Today, you can admire over 4,000 different plant species from all over the world.
Today, I'm going to tell you all about it.
Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam: article summary
The very special collection of plants
In the many gardens and greenhouses of Amsterdam's Hortus Botanicus, you can discover a special collection of plants. Each tree, plant or flower has its own card. full of information such as its name and the place where it is grown. These include some of the rarest plants in the world.
Guano Coccothrinax
This palm tree can go unnoticed. Look at the tree trunk, he seems to be wearing a tiger's coat. The palm tree is native to Central America, and more specifically to the Caribbean. A real discovery for plant lovers.
The Tail-Grape
This particular plant climbs trees. In Southeast Asia, this species is cultivated for its edible yellow fruit.
Victoria Giant Water Lily
This water lily grows in a pool heated to no less than 28 degrees. The lily has enormous leaves that can grow to over a metre. The special feature of this water lily is that it flowers several times a year.
This flower blooms for two nights. The flower turns white on the first night and pink on the second, then it disappears. It's a very special moment if you're lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a flower!
Discover Amsterdam's greenhouses
The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam features a number of monumental greenhouses. On site, you'll find :
- la Serre des Trois Climats
- la Serre des Palmiers
These are impressive outdoor spaces that invite you to discover New Green Worlds full of curiosity.
The Three Climates Greenhouse
Get lost in the greenhouse of the three climates and discover the three climate zones: subtropical, tropical and desert.
In the subtropics, you'll find shrubs, streams with water lilies and ferns, and you should also look up, as the tallest and most beautiful plants and trees grow here.
Take a seat on one of the benches and let yourself be surprised for a moment.
Imagine yourself in the desert between impressive succulents and thorny cacti.
It's a super-diverse collection in all shapes and sizes. They can survive in this arid climate, as they have mastered a technique of absorbing sufficient water and retaining it for a long time.
The tropics have high temperatures and high humidity. When you walk in the tropics, you can enjoy the sound of running water.
The palm greenhouse
Leaving the Serre des Trois Climats, cross the garden towards the Serre des Palmiers. This is also a place to dream about. It's also the place where concerts and yoga sessions. In summer, this greenhouse is a little emptier, as a number of plants take advantage of the fine weather outside.
Hortus botanicus Amsterdam: photogenic locations
When you visit the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam, you'll find plenty of places to take exceptional photos. Stroll along the narrow floating bridges and admire the colorful plant kingdom.
Let the winding, overgrown paths lead the way along small ponds with fish and waterfalls. Photograph the most special cacti that stand out beautifully against the bright pink wall.
I advise you to visit the Hortus during the week. That way, you can have the gardens and greenhouses to yourself and enjoy our visit to the full. It's best to visit the Botanical Gardens in fine weather. The sun's rays are shining cmagically through the greenhouse and all the greenery is magnificently illuminated.
What to do in Amsterdam in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special Amsterdam guide.
It's free and in PDF format.
All you have to do is tell me below which e-mail address you'd like to receive it at.
EDIT: you can't enter your email?
Take the quiz at the top of this article and you'll be able to register your email address to receive the special Amsterdam guide!
Leave a Reply