Antwerp Zoo, Zoo in Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp Zoo stands beside Antwerp Central Station on about 10 hectares. Its pale stone entrance gate has two square pillars with dark roofs, each topped by a green bronze bird, and gold lettering reading "JARDIN ZOOLOGIQUE" and "DIERENTUIN" above tiger and lion images. Inside are the 1856 Egyptian temple, the 1861 Moorish-style building now housing okapis, and the 1958 primate house.
The zoo was founded in 1843 and ranks among Europe's oldest zoological institutions with a long tradition of animal care. Over the decades, it has been modernized and expanded multiple times to improve conditions for its residents.
The zoo's name appears in two languages on its entrance: "JARDIN ZOOLOGIQUE" in French and "DIERENTUIN" in Dutch, with tiger and lion images below. Since 1969 it has run guided group tours and educational programmes called "zoo lessons", and a planetarium was installed around the same time.
The zoo is centrally located in Antwerp and is easily accessible by public transit or on foot from the train station. Plan to spend several hours exploring, and wear comfortable shoes since there is plenty of ground to cover.
The zoo features a notable collection of reptiles and tropical birds housed in specialized buildings with climate control. These indoor spaces allow visitors to observe creatures that would otherwise be difficult to see in their natural environments.
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