Hortus Botanicus Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The Hortus Botanicus at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a botanical collection integrated into the university campus in the Zuidas district, featuring both greenhouse and outdoor growing areas. The collections include ferns, cacti, orchids, and numerous other plant species from diverse regions around the world.

The garden was established in 1967 to provide hands-on learning material for biology students. A planned hospital expansion in the 2000s threatened its existence, but it was preserved through local support and advocacy.

The garden serves as a learning space where students and visitors encounter plants from different climates and ecosystems. It demonstrates how botanical collections connect us to nature and global biodiversity.

The garden is centrally located on campus and is accessible on weekdays without prior booking. Morning and early afternoon hours offer the best visiting conditions, with calmer crowds and good natural light for viewing the plants.

After 2010, the garden was redesigned as a courtyard nestled between university and hospital buildings, creating a green refuge within the urban campus landscape. This unusual integration demonstrates how nature and modern architecture can coexist and complement each other.

Location: Amsterdam

Architects: Chris P. Broerse

Address: Van der Boechorststraat 8, 1081 BT Amsterdam

Website: http://vu.nl/nl/over-de-vu/cultuur-kunst/hortus-botanicus

GPS coordinates: 52.33278,4.86056

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:46