ARTIS has been part of Amsterdam since 1838. On their grounds you'll find ARTIS Zoo, the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, ARTIS Micropia, the only museum in the world dedicated to microbes, and the ARTIS Groote Museum, where natural history meets art and science. Three very different experiences about nature, in one address.
The organisation runs 86 conservation programmes for endangered species worldwide. In 2023 it became the first zoo in the world to switch off all its lights at night, certified by DarkSky International. All food on the grounds has been entirely vegetarian since 2022. And they’re working towards operating without an ecological footprint by 2030.
The mission behind all: strengthen our connection with nature, because without that connection, it’s harder to protect it. That thread runs through everything ARTIS does.
ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo The oldest zoo in the Netherlands, built directly alongside a historic Amsterdam canal. Most habitats are separated by natural barriers rather than fences. Entry includes the Planetarium, daily zookeeper talks and free guided tours on weekends. 📖 Read our full review of ARTIS Zoo
ARTIS-Micropia The only museum in the world dedicated to microbes. Living organisms, real microscopes and daily Lab Talks from Micropia’s own lab technicians. Free for children under 12. 📖 Read our full review of Micropia
ARTIS Groote Museum A natural history museum housed in one of the original 19th-century ARTIS buildings. The collection connects humans, animals and nature through science, art and sensory installations. Free for children under 12.
ARTIS Aquarium One of the oldest aquariums in the world, housed in a monumental 19th-century building on the ARTIS grounds. Home to thousands of fish, invertebrates and coral species from freshwater and marine ecosystems. Currently closed for renovation, opens in June. More information coming soon.
The ARTIS Groote Museum is an interactive nature museum inside a 170-year-old monument on the ARTIS grounds in Amsterdam, built in 1855. The museum is mostly centred in us - humans - you’ll discover how we, together with: animals, plants, and microbes form one ecosystem. You will do this by touching, smelling, listening, and observing different installations.
The only museum in the world dedicated entirely to microbes, located on the ARTIS grounds in the heart of Amsterdam. The museum makes the invisible visible: living microbes, microscopes and interactive displays show you a world that's everywhere around you and inside you, but impossible to see with the naked eye. Entry includes daily Lab Talks with Micropia's own lab technicians and other interactive activities.
ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo is a 19th-century zoo in the heart of Amsterdam. It is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in Europe (opened in 1838) and surrounded by Amsterdams historic canals. The entry includes the Planetarium, daily zookeeper talks and on weekends a free guided tour. A good choice for families and anyone who wants a half-day outdoors in green space close to the city centre.
