Diergaarde Blijdorp

Diergaarde Blijdorp, commonly called Rotterdam Zoo, is a major zoological park in Rotterdam, Netherlands, established in the 19th century and relocated to the Blijdorp district in the 20th century. It is one of the country’s principal zoos and is organised into biogeographical and thematic exhibits.

The zoo’s attractions include large indoor and outdoor enclosures, a substantial marine Oceanium and an indoor tropical hall, both of which concentrate aquatic and rainforest species. The park participates in European breeding and conservation programmes and presents collection-based exhibits across animals from multiple continents.

Diergaarde Blijdorp sits northwest of Rotterdam’s city centre in the Blijdorp neighbourhood, with good public transport connections from central Rotterdam and nearby tram and bus stops.

• Scale and role: The zoo is one of the Netherlands' major zoological parks and operates as Diergaarde Blijdorp or Rotterdam Zoo, with themed halls and conservation programmes.
• Visitor tips: Expect varied terrain and long walking routes; the Oceanium and Amazonica are indoor options in bad weather and are among the most popular exhibits.

What to See #

• Oceanium: Oceanium - a large oceanarium complex housing marine habitats and large saltwater tanks, providing a central aquatic focus of the zoo (opened 2001).
• Amazonica: Amazonica - a covered tropical hall recreating Amazonian rainforest habitat with plants, birds, reptiles and fish (opened 2009).