If there’s one place in Amsterdam where history and nature blend seamlessly, it’s ARTIS Royal Zoo. Founded in 1838, it’s the fifth oldest zoo in the world, giving every visit the feeling of stepping into a living piece of history.
RECOMMENDED DURATION
3 hours
Timings
09:00–17:00
VISITORS PER YEAR
150000
TICKETS
From $34.40
EXPECTED WAIT TIME - STANDARD
30-60 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)
ARTIS Royal Zoo is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, founded in 1838, and features 27 historic listed buildings and bridges still in use today.
The Butterfly Pavilion at ARTIS is the largest of its kind in the Netherlands, housing over 1,000 butterflies in a 1,000 m² tropical garden.
ARTIS is home to Micropia, the world’s first museum dedicated entirely to microbes, offering demonstrations and interactive exhibits.
ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo Entry Ticket
Make your way to the Asian elephant enclosure and watch these gentle giants in action. You’ll see them drinking water with their trunks, splashing around, and moving together as a group, and hopefully, even playing with each other!
ARTIS Royal Zoo, officially Natura Artis Magistra, was founded in 1838 by a group of natural history enthusiasts in Amsterdam. The aim was to promote knowledge of nature through animals and preserved specimens, with the earliest collection including birds, monkeys, an otter, and a forest cat.
Between 1850 and 1855 the society built its first proper museum building on the original zoo grounds. In the late 19th century ARTIS expanded its land, added new enclosures, opened a public aquarium in 1882, and developed extensive museum collections. Today, ARTIS combines its historic architecture, over 900 animal species, a botanical garden, and a planetarium to serve as a major educational and cultural institution in Amsterdam.
The historic core of ARTIS Zoo is the Groote Museum, completed in 1855 and designed by Johannes van Maurik as Amsterdam’s first purpose-built museum building. It originally served as a meeting hall for the society and a zoological museum, housing skeletons, shells and other specimens. Since then, the Museum has been restored to preserve original architectural details, reflecting ARTIS’s role as a modern educational zoo.
Over time ARTIS expanded with additional enclosures, garden areas, and a planetarium, blending 19th-century architecture with modern animal welfare standards. Today, the zoo features 27 historic, listed buildings and bridges still used as enclosures and exhibits, creating a unique living museum atmosphere.
ARTIS Zoo is located at Plantage Kerklaan 38-40 in central Amsterdam, near the city canals.
ARTIS has over 900 species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and tropical plants.
ARTIS Zoo is open from 9am to 5pm daily. Keep an eye out on the official website in case of occasional closures.
Yes, ARTIS offers interactive exhibits, animal feeding sessions, educational programs, and playgrounds that are suitable for all age groups, especially children.
Yes, the zoo has smooth paths, ramps, and facilities to ensure accessibility for all visitors.
Yes, the zoo has cafés and kiosks offering snacks, hot meals, and refreshments throughout the park.
Absolutely. Photography is allowed, but you should respect the animals and follow signage in specific exhibits.
Yes, paid parking is available near the zoo. Public transport options are also convenient for reaching ARTIS.
Yes, ARTIS hosts seasonal events, workshops, and educational programs for all ages throughout the year.