Botanical Garden

The Hortus Botanicus, an enchanting botanical garden and one of the oldest in the world. Back in 1638, these gardens opened their gates as a place where doctors and pharmacists were trained. The establishment of this scientific garden was influenced by none other than the poets Constantijn Huygens and P.C. Hooft. At that time, there was a busy search for herbs that could serve as cures for the plague, and doctors also wanted to discover more effective treatment methods for sick sailors who were on distant voyages.

Today, the Hortus Botanicus is a veritable treasure trove of around 4,000 different plant species from all corners of the world. This garden offers a welcome oasis of calm amidst bustling Amsterdam. One of the most spectacular plants in the collection is the Victoria Amazonica, the world's largest water lily. The leaves of this plant form a kind of container and the flower blooms only two nights a year. In the 1930s, this particular plant attracted many curious visitors at night because of its rare blooms. It is definitely worth admiring this unique natural wonder when you find yourself at the Hortus Botanicus.