Amsterdam · Botanical Garden

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam: One of the World's Oldest Botanical Gardens

The Hortus Botanicus has been growing plants in Amsterdam since 1638 — tropical greenhouses, a century-old palm house, giant water lilies and quiet garden paths in the middle of the Plantage district. Here is its story, the highlights, and how to visit.

By the AllTrips Editorial Team · October 3, 2026

The Hortus Botanicus at a glance

Location: Plantage Middenlaan 2a, in the Plantage district next to Artis zoo. Allow: 1–2 hours. Entry: ticketed; free with the Museumkaart. Nearby: Artis, the Jewish Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue and the Rembrandt House Museum.

The story of the Hortus

The Hortus Botanicus was founded in 1638, not as a pleasure garden but as a herb garden for Amsterdam's doctors and apothecaries — a place to grow the medicinal plants that ships of the Dutch East India Company were bringing back from Asia, Africa and the Americas. That made it one of the first botanical gardens in the world, and one of the few that has never moved.

Some of its plants changed history. A single coffee plant raised here in the early 18th century became the ancestor of every coffee bush in South America. The garden's most famous resident today is the Eastern Cape giant cycad, planted around 1700 and often called the oldest potted plant in the world. Over nearly four centuries the Hortus has grown into a collection of thousands of species spread across outdoor beds and a series of greenhouses, from the grand 1912 palm house to the modern tropical greenhouse.

What you will see

• The tropical greenhouse — a warm, humid world of palms, orchids and the pond of giant Victoria water lilies, whose pads can reach two metres across.
• The Palm House — the elegant 1912 glasshouse that shelters the ancient cycad and a collection of palms and cycads from around the world.
• The butterfly greenhouse — hundreds of tropical butterflies flying free among the flowers, a favourite with children.
• The outdoor gardens — gravel paths through medicinal herb beds, a rock garden, a Japanese garden and magnificent old trees, changing with every season.
• The semicircle and the canal side — the garden runs down to the Nieuwe Herengracht, with benches that make it one of the calmest spots in the city.

Tickets

Entry is ticketed, and the garden rarely sells out — but booking ahead saves time at the gate and is wise on sunny weekends. The Museumkaart is accepted.

Getting there

The Hortus is at Plantage Middenlaan 2a. The nearest metro stop is Waterlooplein (lines 51, 53 and 54), about a seven-minute walk, and tram 14 stops at Artis around the corner. From Centraal Station it is roughly a 25-minute walk through the old Jewish Quarter.

Practical tips

• Go on a weekday morning for the greenhouses almost to yourself.
• The tropical houses are warm year-round — bring a layer you can take off, and in winter enjoy the contrast.
• The garden café has a terrace by the water and is a lovely lunch stop.
• Combine the Hortus with Artis next door or the Jewish Cultural Quarter, a ten-minute walk away.
• See every stop on our Amsterdam attractions map.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam cost?

Entry is ticketed, with discounts for students and children, and Museumkaart holders get in free. Check the official website for current prices, or compare options via the booking link in this guide.

How long should I spend at the Hortus Botanicus?

Allow one to two hours for the outdoor gardens and the main greenhouses. Plant lovers and photographers can easily fill half a day, especially if you add a coffee at the garden café.

Is the Hortus Botanicus worth visiting in winter?

Yes — the greenhouses make it a year-round visit. The tropical houses, the palm house and the butterfly greenhouse are warm and lush even in January, when the outdoor beds are bare.

What is the Hortus Botanicus famous for?

It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, founded in 1638 as a herb garden for doctors. Its treasures include a 300-year-old Eastern Cape giant cycad, the water lily house with giant Victoria lilies, and the palm that gave rise to all the coffee plants of South America.

Where is the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam?

It is at Plantage Middenlaan 2a in the leafy Plantage district, next to Artis zoo and a short walk from Waterlooplein metro station (lines 51, 53 and 54) and the Jewish Cultural Quarter.

Sources

• Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam — official website
• I amsterdam — official city guide