Hortus Botanicus

Botanical garden · Weesperbuurt/Plantage ·

Hortus Botanicus

Botanical garden · Weesperbuurt/Plantage ·

Botanical garden with diverse plants, butterfly house & cafe

Information

Plantage Middenlaan 2a, 1018 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands Get directions

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

How and Where to See the Famous Tulips in the Netherlands

"A historic botanic garden known for showcasing a wide variety of tulip species and other fresh flowers, with annual tulip exhibitions that put special and rare varieties on display in large pots and a small tulip field near the rock garden. The team posts regular bloom updates on its website and social media so visitors can time their visit, and the garden emphasizes botanical diversity and seasonal programming." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-to-see-the-tulips-in-the-netherlands-8788566

Hortus Botanicus

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

The Perfect One-day Itinerary in Amsterdam

"I strolled through Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam and appreciated that it's one of the world's oldest botanic gardens—founded by the Amsterdam City Council in 1638 originally as an herb garden for doctors and apothecaries—and today visitors can wander various greenhouses to see more than 4,000 plant species from around the world." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/amsterdam-netherlands-perfect-day-well-spent-7484971

Hortus Botanicus

@matadornetwork

1,344 Postcards · 344 Cities

Hortus Botanicus

"One of the world’s oldest botanical gardens has roots that go back to 1638 when it was established as a medicinal herb garden in East Amsterdam. Four centuries later, more than 6,000 different indigenous and non-native trees and plants — many unknown in Europe until they were imported from all over the world by Dutch East India Company traders — flourish in its lush greenhouses and outdoor gardens. Hundreds of butterflies fly around in one greenhouse while a giant hothouse creates conditions for three different tropical climates. Visit at dusk to witness a 154-year-old lily open its flower. Even if plants aren’t your passion, Hortus’s airy café, The Orangery, is a cozy spot for lunch or drinks with a large outside terrace that opens to the garden." - MATADOR_NETWORK

https://matadornetwork.com/destinations/europe/netherlands/amsterdam/nature-parks/

MATADOR_NETWORK

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

@monocle

195 Postcards · 59 Cities

"The city’s oldest botanical garden, Hortus, has teamed up with creative agency Moam to provide a platform for 15 young artists to share bespoke works in natural surroundings. Given a brief to respond to and be inspired by the centuries-old collection of plants at the garden, the multidisciplinary talents will have their work, which has been specially created for Hortus, displayed in its historic grounds. Expect to find everything from fashion items to film screenings and sculpture nestled among the garden beds and greenhouses."

Amsterdam

MONOCLE

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

Garret G.

Google

I visited here on a Saturday afternoon. Student price was 7€. The lady at the gate was friendly, and I had most of the garden to myself. The herb garden, and the greenhouses were great. I especially appreciated the building with the palm trees. I later went to the orangerie and got a very nice coffee for a reasonable price. Closing was a bit early, it seemed. A very nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city of Amsterdam.

Ariel J.

Google

(review as of May 2025) it is not a fact unknown to me that most people speed run gardens—but I lay claim to the crown for that title anyway. (we were late to the dungeons) note that you can flash your student pass for a discount! I’m not much of a plant person but I really wanted to see bumble bees (we don’t have them back in my country) and I saw at least 3 different species + hover flies, damsel flies, honey bees, smaller bees that flew too quick, flies, leafhoppers and there a modestly sized butterfly garden. the walkways were just broad enough for one person. they even had bee hives for the honey bees next to a bridge where the water birds occupied the pond. we saw mallards, swans and coots with their chicks it was ADORBS the mom was ferrying bread from the banks to her babies. loved watching the interaction. it also helps that the coot chicks look like those dust balls from spirited away. overall, not a ginormous garden by any means but I liked the layout (was fun seeing the little tropics greenhouse where my home region’s plants were on display), very walkable and lots of pretty spots for photos too. do note that a lot of the plant signs are in Dutch. I also loved the gift shop, it is really worth the visit and by far the most relevant gift shop I’ve been in. there were flora and fauna stickers, embroidery kits, books, accessories and gardening supplies as well, amongst other souvenir items. #amsterdam

Botakoz A.

Google

A wonderful place to relax in peace and quiet. Beautiful plants, a calm atmosphere, and very well-maintained gardens. The service was excellent and friendly. Highly recommended

lil

Google

This has been the highlight of my stay in Amsterdam this time so far. Some plants are really out of this world. I was amazed over and over again. Obviously since it is winter the area you can cover is smaller than warm times because all the plants and trees outside are hybernating haha. Still amazing amazing amazing!

nicolas M.

Google

Great little botanical gardens with amazing tropical greenhouses. It has a shop, a cafe and toilets. We spent about 2 hours here. It took a 15 minute stroll from Dam square to reach but you can also get a tram. Loved it !!

ruth B.

Google

Beautiful, small botanical garden with loads of interesting plants, trees and flowers. A must nip by! And they have the butterfly greenhouse were you can walk and see them all fly around you. Nice calming areas due water fountains so real calming environment. Perfect for artists looking for references of nature and rare specimens!

Google

My favourite place to feel like I'm anywhere but where I actually am; Amsterdam, the big city. Great for photo's as shown in the first few pics. Even greater place to spot butterflies and feel the magic ✨️. You can totally relax here in about every corner of the place, wether you want to spot butterlfies, be with big plants, feel tropical climate, or eat some cake with tea on the side. There is also a great (gift) shop as you exit with books that always inspire me, and every now and then I buy one. Love you Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam ♥︎ (There's also one in Leiden! Worth the visit as well!)

Melisa

Google

one ticket gives you access to the botanical gardens, the butterfly house and the gardens outside of the glass part. it’s a great place to visit, i came here in winter and at least the butterfly house and the garden inside the glass thing was enjoyable even if it wasn’t spring or summer

Jacqui C.

Yelp

On our last day in Amsterdam, we decided to come check out their botanical garden, and we are very happy that we did! This is a nature lover's paradise right here. They have endless plants, flowers, a butterfly sanctuary, and an on-site cafe and store. One part of the botanical garden right next to the cafe is under construction, but I don't remember what they are going to put there. I was able to block out the construction noise in my mind and enjoy the amazing nature the botanical garden had to offer. This was also the place where I learned that Amsterdam runs their monthly emergency tests at noon on the first Monday of each month. Hearing all the air raid sirens in a peaceful setting was really strange. We come from Las Vegas, a hot and dry climate where most flowers and plants nestled here won't be able to survive in. Seeing all these flowers alive and well in a climate where it doesn't get too hot was a great opportunity to admire. Also included was the biggest palm tree I've ever seen in my life, which is enclosed in a different sanctuary tucked away in the back of the garden. Also located behind the garden is a canal, where we saw a few ducks hanging around. Numerous birds, such as parrots, can also be found. After walking around the garden and admiring the plants and flowers, we stopped by their on site cafe for a quick lunch. My mom and I had their soup of the day, which was a tomato soup served with bread on the side, and my dad had their espresso and some sort of egg salad meal, I don't remember the exact name. The soup, though it was a light meal, was excellent and it paired well with the bread. Before we left, we checked out their store, where I picked up a shampoo bar, a conditioner bar, and a face bar. My parents also picked up some plantable pencils to plant back at home, though these may not survive for long after they're planted. Visiting the botanical gardens was a great way to wrap up our trip to Amsterdam and it was worth spending an hour or two here.

Lily G.

Yelp

Beautiful place but it does have a pricey entrance fee. All in all worth it. I recommend taking a few bites of food and really just enjoying the outdoors. In the greenhouse it does get hotter naturally, but is well ventilated and isn't ever unbearable. Amazing plants, but only the most important ones had signs in English. A treat nonetheless. Saw the largest potted fern of my life, really amazing. 2 story greenhouse gives great views!

Mylinh V.

Yelp

Amazing garden to walk! They have plants from all over with many paths to walk! I reserved a ticket online. There is a restroom inside the garden as well as a gift shop you exit through. The garden is within walking distance from the city center. There is a butterfly house, a green house, and another house they're working on building! I was in awe of the amazing tulips in bloom!

Michelle M.

Yelp

Can you imagine walking around one of the oldest botanical gardens? It's pure utter beauty, worth visiting. Not very expensive to enter, around 13 Euros. They offer two different areas for toilets. There is a cafe inside the gardens, you can make this a day of just walking around and eating. Our trip was in the middle of winter, so not much blooming. However that didn't disrupt our enjoyment of how magical this place is. The indoor buildings are what had us captivated. You can walk up steps to a walkway above the plants. Explore different climates only certain plants thrive in. Or you can walk into a room filled with butterflies. We had a very nice time. I'm sure that in the summer it's 3x more pretty, so those of you travelling then, check it out.

Gary H.

Yelp

Amsterdam's Botanical Gardens is a great place to spend an afternoon. The greenhouse is a main attraction but can get super warm. The Butterfly exhibit is awesome too. Its not a fast walk through so prepared to be patient.

Alex M.

Yelp

We loved the Hortus last time we went. This time it seemed a lot smaller. I checked my pictures- the lilypad pond was kind of sad this time around. It was covered last time- and with much bigger pads. Maybe it's the time of year? I don't know. At any rate, there wasn't that much to see although we dutifully wandered everywhere. There was a cat in one of the greenhouses, that was nice. It was packed with people since the Hermitage was closed and the cafe was totally full and understaffed (the inside was not open). So that was sad since we wanted to eat at the cafe as we had lovely memories of eating there. Maybe if we hadn't been here before? I don't know. It's not like it was expensive- 24 euros for two adults. But it was a bit boring this time around. Oh well.

Stephanie S.

Yelp

Great botanical garden. It was really pretty to go through. It's like a little oasis in the city. If you have time or are looking for something different to do, try the botanical gardens!

Kevin B.

Yelp

This is a lovely local botanical garden just east of central Amsterdam. It costs €12 to enter, which is a bit steep. But you'll enjoy charming strolls through multiple gardens, as well as some gorgeous greenhouses featuring three biomes: South Africa; rainforest; and desert (including a comparison between American desert flora versus African desert flora). I only spent about 45 minutes here, but you could relax longer on a chill day. Enjoy the plants!

Tim K.

Yelp

An unexpected gem and escape from the most touristic parts of Amsterdam! The Hortus Botanicus (as a Classicist, I love that they use the Latin name) is situated just outside of the main touristic center of Amsterdam, so it is a bit of a walk. But we were happy we did! This is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and houses over 4,000 plants on its grounds. From the outside, it appears rather small, but the winding paths can take you a couple hours to traverse. Not only is the garden a feast for the eyes, but the mind as well! Sign and information panels throughout each of the 3 main greenhouses fill you in on the history of each plant, how they arrived in Amsterdam, and their importance to the study of botany. Once you've made it through the greenhouses, definitely take the time to wander around the rest of the grounds which are quite charming. Sadly, as it was winter, very few plants/trees were still in bloom, but it was a beautiful stroll nonetheless. My favorite surprise was the butterfly greenhouse, in which you may end up as a perch for a bright colored butterfly! Overall, go off the beaten path and check out this wonderful gem in Amsterdam!

Saige M.

Yelp

An unexpected gem! I wasn't sure what to expect going into this but I had a really great time. Unfortunately we came a week or two before full bloom of a lot of the plants but there was still plenty there to enjoy. I loved the 4 different climate areas, it was really unique. I was also pleasantly surprised by the butterfly enclosure. I didn't know there was one and although it was humid as hell I enjoyed walking through. Didn't have a chance to try out the cafe so I can't comment much on it. I did walk through though and everything I saw looked good. This place is definitely a great place to see if you are traveling in Amsterdam and have ample time. If you are only going to be in town for a couple days there are some more enriching things to explore.

Francesca S.

Yelp

This was a very small botanical garden for the price. There aren't very many greenhouses to visit but the grounds are calming to stroll through. My favorite was the butterfly house. It was packed full of beautiful butterflies that were very active and interactive. I loved spending time inside this butterfly house just letting the butterflies land and flutter by.

Corey C.

Yelp

Beautiful and unexpected find in the quieter end of town. Lovely to walk through and be in awe of nature for an hour or two. Not crowded, and didn't seem to be a place for kids running around which we were surprised at since it seems like the kind of place that would be run amok with kids back in the states.

Eva K.

Yelp

This is a great botanical garden so to speak, but why the three stars? Because it's small and has entrance fee. Sorry to say, but it's nothing compared to our own botanical garden in Copenhagen I know that it's probably not subsidised like in Copenhagen, but it's quite disappointing size-wise. They do have glass houses with different plants with different climates though, my favourite is the desert one with lots of different cacti from South America and Africa. All in all, it's a nice place to admire the nature, especially in the autumn.

Rachael O.

Yelp

If you where going to tell me that I would spend my morning, in Amsterdam, while hungover, looking at plants? I would have laughed at you. If you told me I would have liked it? I would have laughed harder. However, I would not have been getting the last laugh, as I would be wrong. My morning here was a great morning. We where lucky that it was a really nice morning when we went to have a look around here and it was a nice chilled out one - being amazed at the size of some off the plants!! After this we also went to the onsite cafe, which was a nice place with really cool felt walls - go just to hug the wall! It be great fun!

Joëlla D.

Yelp

By definition nature should get 5 stars, just because we can not add anything to creation. The Hortus Botanicus is a small part of -although by men initiated- piece of nature in the middle of a busy and congested city. It is beautiful. Different parts and climates of the world are represented. Besides this there is the beautiful big class house with palm trees, a few smaller glasshouses with a special plants, butterflies and a beautiful garden with a labyrinth. There are special programs depending on the time and season. I once went for a Chinese tea tarting ceremony, very special. There a a bunch of things to do for kids. And for a nice lunch and a tea/coffee the Orangerie offers a very nice spot. Overlooking the garden and inside beautifully decorated. You should seriously consider spending an afternoon with a book on a bench in one of the glasshouses, just pretending you are in a completely different country. Out of your coat, breath in the fresh air and enjoy. You will feel completely refreshed.

Polly B.

Yelp

What an amazing place with a great cafe! Enjoyed the butterfly exhibit tremendously They have bee hives on site keep nd of cool to see there kitchen garden and Food as Medicine exhibit

Cat C.

Yelp

This place is a little slice of heaven to get away from the larger groups of tourist and a break from dodging the cyclist.

Peter L.

Yelp

OK, it looked a little more impressive on the website, but it probably didn't help that I came during a snowy day. The main greenhouse was pretty decent, with a couple of zones - one for the desert and one for the rain forest. But it was a bit small, and explanations were lacking. The butterfly garden was lame, and I saw just a few smaller butterflies, and the collection of cacti was not very displayed very attractively. The outdoor areas looked like it could be better, but will have to come back later to see. It's close to Hermitage so it could be a stop on the way there, and admissions is only 8 euros. But there really wasn't too much to see here, at least in the winter.

Kfir O.

Yelp

The gardens are beautiful, not spectacular. I gave 1 star only due to the fact that in 2017, in one of the most touristic cities in western EU, 70% of the signs explaining about the vegetation are in Dutch only (!?!?).

Eric B.

Yelp

I'm into plants, and this is a well done botanical garden. You need to enjoy the little rare things, although the giant cycad palms do cast an impressive shadow. The butterfly house, beehives, carnivorous plants, three climate house, palm house, various ponds, et al should provide something for anyone. The café is tasty too. What I particularly enjoyed was seeing so many prehistoric and endangered plants that are displayed and marked as such. This is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Europe, 17th century, it presents an up-to-date impression. As a gardener and person interested in landscape design I found many small innovative things in these gardens. Happy I came.

Anthony G.

Yelp

Quite tiny botanical garden is lovely in the spring to visit and has a small butterfly house. If coming anytime other than May, it may not be worth it because it is very small. Plus, it's €8,50 to get in and I didn't think it was worth it. Supposedly, it's one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Certainly one of the smallest. On a positive note, this was one place in the city where I felt I actually got away from the tourist crowds.

Martin M.

Yelp

The butterfly house wasn't as amazing as we expected from online reviews, but the tropical house was interesting. There's plenty to do indoors, in case of rain. Most of the info is in Dutch, so bring your Dutch dictionary! There is free wi-fi, but it only seemed to work in the gift shop area. They accept foreign debit cards, and also foreign student IDs for the discount on entry.

Ronald V.

Yelp

Its quite small compared to horti other famous. But so near the town center and near the zoo, an attraction.

Deborah H.

Yelp

Lovely little gem of a garden space; the cafe is said to be excellent (we had tea only) and you can explore it in 1-2 hours easily; pay special attention to the medicinal botany garden from ~ 1650 established for supporting the medical school and training doctors on use of more than 600 plants.

Miroslava Z.

Yelp

It is really a nice place to have a walk in. Only it's quite pricey. Still it's great place to forget the busy city.

Tracy K.

Yelp

Pretty cool place to spend a couple of hours relaxing if you are a traveler. I visited in the fall so I am not sure if their spring exhibit may be better. There is a cafe and a nice place to sit and watch the water of the canals if you would like to rest. Don't miss out on the greenhouse structure - you can climb to the top of the stairs and see everything from high up.

Jerry G.

Yelp

The sum of all its parts is greater than each of its individual pieces. Yes it's small and it may not have big a huge signature greenhouse or acres and acres of flowers but they have many different things on offer and what they have is very unique. And don't forget it was built in 1638 and has continued ever since. Let's start outside with a collection of tall trees; a half circle garden with dahlias and roses; a medicinal/herb garden; the Victorian Lily pond;; and a bigger pond with dragonflies and small frogs. All are connected with dirt paths, running along streams or over bridges. All of this is against the backdrop of the beautiful 16th century buildings. Indoors there is the palm greenhouse. The brick and glass building is more impressive than the plants inside. When we were there it was a bit sparse. But you cannot miss the climates pavilion where 3 separate climate areas (tropical, sub-tropical, desert) are connected with winding pathways and canopy thru-ways where you can view the upper parts of the trees or look down all around you. The small butterfly pavilion is fun and their indoor/outdoor cafe is a nice place for lunch. Surprising fact: Hortus keeps bees to produce their own honey. They sell the honey in their gift shop and because of the limited supply, it's a bit pricey at 25 Euros a jar. During the summer there are concerts on Sunday evening and during Christmas and during the Amsterdam Light Festival there are special concerts as well. Check out the video of our visit here: https://youtu.be/KoydNW5J9WU

Lauren H.

Yelp

This is the worst botanical garden I've been to by far. We went in late May, and everything was brown, wilting, and desiccated. There was one fish in a pond. . . it was not moving. Perhaps everything picks up in June, or maybe the garden was suffering some kind of blight, but it did not look well-tended, and the butterfly garden was not as big or varied as the ones in DC. If you have free entry it couldn't hurt to check it out, but if you pay a la carte like we did, you may regret it.

Juha K.

Yelp

Excellent place. It is worth of visiting in wintertime too, outside garden is quite empty though. Cafe serves delicious snack, I can recommend the roll with cheese.

Jacqueline M.

Yelp

A really nice break from the business of the city. We visited over the summer so it was really pleasant. Plus, it's one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world! They have a decent range of plants. I loved visiting the butterflies though, so beautiful! We were able to save 20% with a voucher off of Smartsave.com, I recommend looking into that!

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

How and Where to See the Famous Tulips in the Netherlands

https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-to-see-the-tulips-in-the-netherlands-8788566

Hortus Botanicus

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

The Perfect One-day Itinerary in Amsterdam

https://www.travelandleisure.com/amsterdam-netherlands-perfect-day-well-spent-7484971

Hortus Botanicus

@matadornetwork

1,344 Postcards · 344 Cities

Hortus Botanicus

https://matadornetwork.com/destinations/europe/netherlands/amsterdam/nature-parks/

MATADOR_NETWORK

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

@monocle

195 Postcards · 59 Cities

Amsterdam

MONOCLE

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

Garret G.

Google

Ariel J.

Google

Botakoz A.

Google

A wonderful place to relax in peace and quiet. Beautiful plants, a calm atmosphere, and very well-maintained gardens. The service was excellent and friendly. Highly recommended

lil

Google

nicolas M.

Google

ruth B.

Google

Melisa

Google

Jacqui C.

Yelp

Lily G.

Yelp

Mylinh V.

Yelp

Michelle M.

Yelp

Gary H.

Yelp

Alex M.

Yelp

Stephanie S.

Yelp

Great botanical garden. It was really pretty to go through. It's like a little oasis in the city. If you have time or are looking for something different to do, try the botanical gardens!

Kevin B.

Yelp

Tim K.

Yelp

Saige M.

Yelp

Francesca S.

Yelp

Corey C.

Yelp

Eva K.

Yelp

Rachael O.

Yelp

Joëlla D.

Yelp

Polly B.

Yelp

What an amazing place with a great cafe! Enjoyed the butterfly exhibit tremendously They have bee hives on site keep nd of cool to see there kitchen garden and Food as Medicine exhibit

Cat C.

Yelp

This place is a little slice of heaven to get away from the larger groups of tourist and a break from dodging the cyclist.

Peter L.

Yelp

Kfir O.

Yelp

Eric B.

Yelp

Anthony G.

Yelp

Martin M.

Yelp

Ronald V.

Yelp

Its quite small compared to horti other famous. But so near the town center and near the zoo, an attraction.

Deborah H.

Yelp

Miroslava Z.

Yelp

It is really a nice place to have a walk in. Only it's quite pricey. Still it's great place to forget the busy city.

Tracy K.

Yelp

Jerry G.

Yelp

Lauren H.

Yelp

Juha K.

Yelp

Excellent place. It is worth of visiting in wintertime too, outside garden is quite empty though. Cafe serves delicious snack, I can recommend the roll with cheese.

Jacqueline M.

Yelp

Hortus Botanicus

Information

Postcards

Media

How and Where to See the Famous Tulips in the Netherlands

The Perfect One-day Itinerary in Amsterdam

Hortus Botanicus

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How and Where to See the Famous Tulips in the Netherlands

The Perfect One-day Itinerary in Amsterdam

Hortus Botanicus