Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, Botanical garden in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hortus Botanicus is a plant garden in Amsterdam that houses thousands of different species arranged across greenhouses and outdoor areas. The collection ranges from tropical plants to succulents and includes medicinal herbs and rare specimens.
The garden was founded in 1638 to grow medicinal plants for physicians and pharmacists at the University of Amsterdam. These origins as a healing herb site shaped its character over the centuries.
Visitors come to see plants from distant lands and understand how these species found their way to Europe through trade routes. The collections tell stories of exchange between continents that people can still trace today.
The garden is located close to Amsterdam's center and is easily reached by public transport or bicycle. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the grounds have varying paths and the greenhouses can sometimes feel crowded.
The garden contains a Victoria water lily, a giant aquatic plant that produces impressive flowers under the right conditions. It also grows coffee plants whose descendants helped spread this crop to South America.
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