Burgers' Desert, Desert ecosystem building at Royal Burgers' Zoo, Netherlands
Burgers' Desert is a heated and climate-controlled indoor space displaying desert plants from various regions, maintaining dry warm conditions year-round. The structure houses numerous cactus species, agaves, and other succulents that thrive in this stable environment.
The desert section was created during the 1980s as part of a major redesign of Royal Burgers' Zoo, marking a shift toward more realistic habitats for animals and plants. This development brought new thinking about how ecosystems could be presented and maintained in captivity.
The space displays plants adapted to extreme dryness, making their survival strategies visible to visitors. You can see how different cacti and succulents manage with minimal water.
The space is open most days from morning to early evening, and it is wise to visit in the morning to avoid the largest crowds. The enclosed environment is straightforward to navigate, regardless of weather outside.
The roof of the space uses air cushion technology that allows daylight to enter without the typical maintenance demands of heavy glass installations. This is an unusual technical solution that lets the space preserve natural light while remaining cost-efficient.
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