Artis Zoo, nestled comfortably in the centre of Amsterdam, is the perfect destination for families staying in
Amsterdam apartments. With approximately 700 animal species, a botanical garden, 3 listed buildings, a planetarium, a geological museum and a zoological museum, Artis makes for a wonderful day out for both adults and children.
Artis Zoo, officially known as Artis Natura Magistra ('Nature is the teacher of art' in Latin) was founded in 1838. Over the years, both the collection of animals kept in the zoo and the number of impressive buildings on the grounds has increased. The Large Museum (built in 1855), the Aquarium (1882) and the intriguing Library building (1867) have all been given listed building status. As a further historical aside, Artis was home to the last quagga (a now extinct subspecies of the zebra) to be held in captivity before it died in 1883.
Today, visitors from
Amsterdam apartments can expect to see a huge variety of fascinating creatures kept in world-class enclosures. Wolves, bison, lions, giraffes, sea lions and a variety of monkeys and other small mammals are just some of the inhabitants of Artis Zoo. The incredible Artis Aquarium, meanwhile, houses around 300 species of fish, amphibians and invertebrates.
Artis is as famous for its museums as it is for its wildlife. The Geological Museum gives a fascinating insight into the workings of the planet while the Zoological Museum houses scientific collections dating back to the 19th century. Visitors from
Amsterdam apartments wanting to take a look beyond our little planet should head for the Planetarium. Here you can watch the birth of the universe, take a look around our solar system and then shoot off to distant galaxies.
Artis is easily reached by public transport from all of our
Amsterdam apartments. Trams 9, 10 and 14 can all take you to the zoo or hop on the Waterlooplein metro. In the summer months Artis can be reached by canal boat. From Central Station board the Artis Express, a canal boat operated by Lovers shipping company will take you directly to the zoo.
Artis is open every day of the year from 9.00am until 5.00pm (6.00pm in the summer season). Admission is €18.50 for adults, €17.00 for seniors (65+) and €15.00 for children between 3 to 9 years of age. The ticket price includes entry to the museums and planetarium. Summer is the best time to visit the zoo from
Amsterdam apartments, but winter has the advantage of smaller crowds.
Buy your Buy your Artis Zoo tickets online in advance, to avoid queuing when you get there.
