More Than a Zoo in the Middle of Amsterdam
Is ARTIS Amsterdam worth visiting, and what makes this city zoo different from others?
ARTIS is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, but a visit is about more than animals. The park combines historic buildings, old trees, gardens, a planetarium, an aquarium and stories that are closely connected with Amsterdam itself. You can spend time watching the animals, but also discover how the zoo and its place in the city have changed over almost two centuries.
A historic zoo in the middle of Amsterdam also has to work within limited space. Old animal enclosures have disappeared or found new uses, while other parts of the park have been redesigned around modern ideas about animal care, education and conservation. This makes ARTIS an interesting place to visit, but also one that invites a closer and honest look.
This guide explores what makes ARTIS special, what has changed, what you need to know before visiting and whether it deserves a place in your Amsterdam itinerary.
In this guide
Historic Buildings and Park Atmosphere
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Is ARTIS Right for You?
✅ ARTIS may suit you if you enjoy:
- animals, nature and conservation stories
- historic buildings and old Amsterdam details
- a relaxed half-day or full-day visit
- attractions that combine indoor and outdoor spaces
- seeing a different side of Amsterdam beyond the main museums and canals
⚖️ ARTIS may suit you less if you expect:
- very large, modern animal enclosures throughout the park
- a short attraction that you can see in one hour
- a completely indoor activity
- a zoo visit without questions about keeping animals in a city
ARTIS is especially interesting for families, animal lovers, repeat visitors to Amsterdam and travellers who enjoy combining nature with history. Adults without children can also find plenty to see, particularly in the historic parts of the park, the aquarium and the quieter garden areas.
If this is your first visit to the city, my guide to what to expect in Amsterdam helps you understand the city’s distances, neighbourhoods and atmosphere before you plan your day.
What Kind of Place Is ARTIS?
ARTIS is Amsterdam’s historic city zoo, located in the Plantage neighbourhood. Founded in 1838, it was the first public zoo in the Netherlands and is now one of the oldest zoos in the world.
A zoo ticket includes the Planetarium and the renewed ARTIS Aquarium. The Planetarium presents shows about space, planets and the universe beneath a large domed screen.
Micropia focuses on the invisible world of microbes and shows how bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms affect daily life. The Groote Museum explores the connections between humans, animals, plants and the wider natural world. Both are part of the wider ARTIS site, but require separate admission.
What makes ARTIS different is the setting. Animal enclosures, gardens, mature trees and historic buildings are all part of the same compact park. Some older structures have been restored or given a new purpose, while newer areas focus more on space, education and conservation.
💡 Fun fact: The full original name is Natura Artis Magistra, Latin for “Nature is the teacher of art and science”. The shorter name ARTIS eventually became the name everyone used.
ARTIS also works as a green break from the city. For more outdoor places, see my guide to parks and green spaces in Amsterdam
A Short History of ARTIS
ARTIS was founded in 1838 as a private society for people interested in nature and science. The founders collected not only living animals, but also skeletons, shells and preserved specimens. In its early years, ARTIS was mainly accessible to wealthier members, but over time it became much more closely connected with the city and its residents.
The Second World War added a very different chapter to that history. ARTIS remained open during the occupation, although Jewish visitors were no longer allowed to enter. Behind the scenes, the zoo also became a hiding place for Jewish people, members of the resistance and young men trying to avoid forced labour. Some hid in or around animal buildings, while German soldiers continued to visit the zoo.
The war also affected daily life in the park. Food became increasingly difficult to obtain, especially during the Hunger Winter. Staff had to find new ways to feed the animals, and children collected acorns and seeds to help.
After the war, ARTIS gradually changed from a traditional zoo into a place with more focus on education, research, conservation and the relationship between people and nature. That development is still visible today in the restored buildings, renewed enclosures and museums across the wider ARTIS site.
💡 Fun fact:
In the free ARTIS app, you can follow a nine-part audio tour about the people, animals and hiding places connected with ARTIS during the Second World War.
ARTIS has collected many unusual stories over the years. You can find more surprising city history in 30 Amsterdam facts: Truth or Myth
Historic Buildings and Park Atmosphere
ARTIS grew gradually inside Amsterdam, which is why animal enclosures, gardens and historic buildings sit so closely together. The park contains 26 national monuments, and many of them still reveal how ideas about zoos and animal care have changed over time.
One of my favourite places is the connected Monkey House and Bird House. It was built in 1908 and originally had a central visitor path with separate animal enclosures on both sides. After a major renovation in 2010 and 2011, it became a walk-through habitat. The adjoining Bird House was also redesigned so that visitors move through the animals’ environment rather than simply looking into cages. Now you first enter a warm, green space where small monkeys, sloths, birds and other animals can move around without traditional cages separating them from visitors. The route then continues through several bird areas, each with a different atmosphere and planting.
For me, this building shows what makes ARTIS different. The historic architecture is still visible, but the way you experience the animals has changed. You are not only looking at an old zoo building; you are walking through an example of how ARTIS has tried to adapt its heritage to newer ideas about animal habitats.
🧭 Travelglaze Tip: Take your time in the Monkey House and Bird House. Animals may be above you, hidden between plants or moving freely through the space, so a quick walk-through means you can easily miss them.
The Renewed ARTIS Aquarium
The renewed ARTIS Aquarium combines its historic character with a much more modern visitor experience. From the outside, the 19th-century building still looks largely original, and the main hall has kept its familiar scale and atmosphere.
The other spaces feel very different. Both below and above the main hall, interactive displays explain water in a broader way: where it comes from, how ecosystems depend on it and how people influence water quality.
One of the most interesting sections focuses on Amsterdam’s canals. You can see which animals live in the city’s waterways and learn how canal water is filtered and cleaned. This gives the Aquarium a clear connection with Amsterdam rather than presenting only tropical fish and distant oceans.
The renewed Aquarium is therefore not just a collection of tanks. It combines underwater life with practical explanations about rivers, oceans, drinking water and the role water plays in a city.
🧭 Travelglaze Tip: In July 2026, the Aquarium was still developing. The coral needs time to grow and not all planned fish species had been introduced yet. Adjust your expectations slightly: the Aquarium has reopened, but it has not reached its full potential. Returning later may actually be part of the experience, as you can watch the underwater habitats continue to grow.
Famous Animals and Personal Memories
Some animals in ARTIS became more than zoo residents. They were visited for years, remembered by generations of Amsterdammers and became part of the history of the park.
The best-known example is Tanja the hippopotamus. She was born in ARTIS in 1960 and lived there for almost fifty years. When she died in 2009, hundreds of visitors came to say goodbye and left drawings, flowers and personal messages. Her long life in the zoo made her especially familiar to people who had visited ARTIS as children and later returned with their own families. Tanja is now displayed in preserved form in the Groote Museum, where her story is used to explore the changing relationship between people and zoo animals.
Another well-known resident was Caesar, the male lion who lived in ARTIS for nineteen years. He became the leader of the lion group and was one of the animals many regular visitors recognised by name. Caesar died in 2018 at the age of twenty. The lions have since moved from the historic Kerbert Terrace to a newer enclosure with more space, while the old lion terrace is being given a different purpose.
🧡 A Travelglaze Moment: The Manatees I Remember
My oldest memory of Artis animals is that of the manatees. I remember them floating in what seemed like a very small indoor pool, often slowly eating large leaves of lettuce.
At the time (55 years ago), that was simply part of a visit to ARTIS. Later in life, I was lucky to see them in their original habitat. Looking back, the size of the pool stands out much more. The manatees once lived in the building that now houses gorillas and several other species. Their former enclosure is a clear reminder of how much ideas about suitable space and animal care have changed.
Planning Your Visit to ARTIS
What is included in an ARTIS ticket?
A standard ARTIS Zoo ticket includes the zoo, the renewed Aquarium and Planetarium shows. Micropia and the Groote Museum require separate admission, although combination tickets are available. Online prices vary by date and are cheaper than tickets bought at the entrance.
🎟️ Check prices: ARTIS ticket prices and opening hours
⏱️ Best for: visitors who want to combine animals, the Aquarium and one Planetarium show
💡 Good to know: ARTIS is currently open daily from 9:00 to 18:00.
🧭 Travelglaze Tip: Book online before your visit. You pay less and can immediately check whether a combination ticket suits your plans.
How much time do you need at ARTIS?
ARTIS can fill most of a day, especially now that the Aquarium is included again. A shorter visit is possible if you choose a few animal areas and skip some shows or museums.
⏱️ Allow: around 4 hours for a selective visit
🗓️ Allow: most of a day for the Aquarium, Planetarium, historic buildings and breaks
📱 Good to know: the daily programme shows current talks, tours and Planetarium times.
ARTIS works best when you decide in advance what matters most rather than trying to see every animal and activity.
Is ARTIS wheelchair accessible?
Most of ARTIS is accessible to wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters. The park also has accessible toilets and adapted facilities. Historic buildings and older paths can occasionally require a different route.
💡 Good to know: ask at the entrance about the easiest route through older buildings and any temporary closures.
Where can you eat and rest?
ARTIS has several cafés and food points inside the park. Which ones are open can vary by season and day.
🍴 Best for: a lunch break without leaving the park
🪑 Good to know: benches and seating areas are spread throughout ARTIS
🧭 Travelglaze Tip: Do not wait until the busiest lunch hour if you want to eat at one of the main cafés. An earlier or later break may be more comfortable.
How do you get to ARTIS?
ARTIS is in the Plantage neighbourhood, east of the main canal district. It is easy to reach by public transport, bicycle or on foot from Waterlooplein. A paid ARTIS car park is also available.📍 Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38–40, Amsterdam
🚋 Public transport:
The easiest public transport options are:
- tram 1 or 14 to ARTIS/Holocaust Museum;
- metro 51, 53 or 54 to Waterlooplein, followed by a 15-minute walk;
- bus 22 or 43 to Kadijksplein, followed by a 10-minute walk.
🚗 Good to know: parking is available, but public transport is usually easier in central Amsterdam
🧭 Final Thoughts
ARTIS is worth considering when you are looking for more than a standard zoo visit. The combination of animals, historic buildings, gardens, the renewed Aquarium and personal Amsterdam stories gives the park a character of its own. Its compact city location is part of that appeal, although it also explains why some parts feel different from a modern wildlife park outside the city.
A daytime visit is not the only option. During the Zoomeravonden, ARTIS stays open on Saturday evenings in summer, with live music, guided tours, workshops and other activities around the park. In 2026, these evenings run from 11 July to 29 August, with the park open until sunset and final admission at 21:00. This can be an interesting choice if you prefer a later, more atmospheric visit or want to combine ARTIS with a summer evening in Amsterdam. Always check the current Zoomeravonden programme before planning around it.
Whether ARTIS fits your Amsterdam trip depends on what you want from the visit: animals, history, architecture, a green break from the city, or a combination of all four.
Have you visited ARTIS before, and what do you remember most?
