Hortus Botanicus (Amsterdam)

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is a historic botanical garden in the Plantage quarter of central Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1638. It is one of the world’s oldest surviving botanical gardens and retains a mix of historic beds and modern glasshouse collections.

The garden’s compact site contains several greenhouses housing tropical and subtropical plants, a palm house, and themed beds that include medicinal and exotic species. Visitors commonly see a tropical greenhouse with large-leaf plants, seasonal displays, and mature trees that date back many decades.

Hortus Botanicus was established in the 17th century to supply physicians and apothecaries with medicinal plants and to support botanical study; its collections grew over succeeding centuries. The garden has continued as both a public attraction and a teaching and research site.

The garden sits in Amsterdam’s Plantage district, adjacent to cultural attractions such as the city zoo (Artis) and within easy walking distance of the canal belt and other central Amsterdam neighborhoods.

• Founding date: Founded in 1638, it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and was established to grow medicinal plants for physicians and apothecaries.

What to See #

• Greenhouse complex: A set of historic glasshouses that contain tropical and subtropical plant collections, including a palm house and tropical beds used for seasonal displays and specialist plants.
• Historic herb garden: Formal herb and medicinal-plant beds reflecting the garden's original role supplying physicians and students; paths and small themed beds remain within the central garden area.
• Public garden and paths: A compact public garden area with benches and shaded walks adjacent to the greenhouses, often visited together with the nearby city zoo and cultural sites.