There are many zoos in the Netherlands.
Some are even very close to Amsterdam.
In this article, I take you on a tour of the must-see establishments.
Zoo in the Netherlands: article summary
The Royal Artis Zoo in Amsterdam
Artis is the oldest Netherlands Zoo and you'll find it in the heart of Amsterdam. Artis innovates, from the zoo to the educational institute that aims to stimulate love and care for nature.
More and more spaces are being created for animals and plants, education and heritage. At Artis, you'll find Micropia, the world's 1ᵉʳ microbe museumthe monkey house, the nesting box, the jaguar house and an elephant house.
ARTIS is located in Amsterdam's historic city park, and includes the zoo, planetarium, Micropia, Groote Museum and Botanical Garden.
Useful information
You can visit this zoo:
- Every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter and until 6 p.m. in summer
To get there, you can take public transport and get there using the streetcars 9 and 14 or by river bus.
Zoo in the Netherlands: Diergaarde Blijdorp
Diergaarde Blijdorp is one of the world's leading the oldest and most beautiful in the Netherlands. Some parts, such as the Himalayan region with the restored Mountain Animal Rock, are national monuments.
This zoo boasts a wide variety of animals. The aquatic section is very large, and you'll find sharks, squid, sea turtles and many other aquatic animals swimming around you.
There's a magnificent tropical butterfly garden. There are lions, panthers, tigers, gorillas, snakes, monkeys, elephants, hippos and many other animals on site.
Each animal species lives in its own adapted and well-designed environment. The animals are happy at Diergaarde Blijdorp.
Practical information
You can visit us on site:
- Every day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Apenheul Zoo
A day at Apenheul is a fun day out with monkeys in the wild! In this beautiful green park in the Veluwe, you can enjoy a fantastic experience among over 300 monkeys from Africa, South America and Asia.
Around 35 species of monkey live in Apenheul, including Barbary apes, squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys, golden-headed monkeys, gorillas, orangutans, howler monkeys, emperor tamarins, spider monkeys and many more species.
Over 150 monkeys roam freely among the visitors. Be careful with your belongings in the free zones. That's right, monkeys are quick to steal what interests them.
Practical information
To visit the site, you can go to :
- Every day of the week 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter and until 6:30 p.m. in summer
Zoo in the Netherlands: Wildlands Adventure Park Emmen
Wildlands Adventure Park is located in Emmen, in the north-east of the Netherlands. During your stay in the Netherlands, I recommend spending a day at Wildlands World.
Discover the jungle by boat or on foot and meet a family of elephants. See rhinoceroses and giraffes at close quarters during your truck safari through the savannah.
Visit the new beaver house, go on a polar expedition and meet polar bears and penguins. In short, you can experience a thousand and one adventures at Wildlands.
Practical information
This zoo opens :
- Every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In summer and at weekends, the zoo is open until 6 or 8 pm, depending on the number of visitors.
The smallest zoo in the Netherlands: Mini zoo Artisklas in Haarlem
The Artisklas Foundation is officially the smallest zoo in the Netherlands and is located in Haarlem. Artisklas consists of 4 buildings and an outdoor area with several living quarters.
The first building houses various types of reptiles and invertebrates. The second contains Haarlem's first and only diorama, with eight biotopes and the (stuffed) animals that belong to them.
The third serves as a food kitchen, food storage and quarantine area. Finally, the last building is reserved for employees.
There are many zoos in the Netherlands. Some of them are even just a few minutes from Amsterdam. While you're here, don't hesitate to get away from the city for a while and visit a zoo. take advantage of the animal sanctuaries that surround you.
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