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Artis, the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, founded in 1838, shows its historical character even before you walk through the gates: two golden eagles are perched proudly atop the main entrance.
People enjoy the 19th-century atmosphere of the gardens: the winding paths, majestic trees, the fascinating sculptures and the monumental historical buildings. Artis is a haven of peace and quiet right in the city centre of Amsterdam.
Artis is a fascinating zoo. In an area of 14 hectares around 700 species of animals provide a magnificent overview of the entire animal kingdom. Amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, mammals and insects... all are superbly represented.
Artis's renowned Aquarium brings you face to face with … the secret life of Amsterdam's canals! Around the zoo you'll find many more Dutch and European animal and plant species, as well as more exotic ones. You can also come to quench your thirst for knowledge at the Planetarium, the museums and all kinds of smaller exhibitions.
Aquarium
Construction work on the Artis Aquarium began in the summer of 1879. A staggering 1,740 wooden poles were needed to form the foundation of the building, designed by father and son Salm, both architects. In 1880, the enormous reservoirs in the bowels of the building were brought into use and filled with almost one million litres of mostly salt water. Two years later, on 2 December 1882, the new Aquarium was finally opened to the public.
In 1997 the Artis Aquarium was extensively renovated. The historic Great Hall was restored to its former glory, with the salt water systems on the left and the fresh water on the right. The building was fitted with four giant new aquariums. These mammoth tanks each house very different ecosystems: the Amazonian flooded forest, the tropical coral reef and the Amsterdam canal. Last but not least, the amphibians were given a prominent place opposite the Amsterdam canal. The Artis Aquarium houses some 300 species of fish, amphibians and evertebrates.
The Great Hall
Here the visitor can become acquainted with the enormous biodiversity of life underwater. Part of this magnificent hall is devoted to life in salt water, from an estuary in the Dutch province of Zeeland and the North Sea, to the distant waters of the tropics. Closer scrutiny reveals plaice, flounder and sole, flatfish whose camouflage and behaviour allows them to conceal themselves cunningly on the sandy seabed. The largest tank is home to sharks and rays from subtropical waters. In the year 2000, Artis succeeded in having the entire reproductive cycle of the bullhead shark take place in captivity. Large, snakelike moray eels can be spotted gliding in and out of underwater caves. Beautiful but highly poisonous lion fish can be admired. Another part of the Great Hall exhibits freshwater fish. These include rainbow fish from New Guinea and cichlids from East Africa and South America. The nishikigoi Japanese decorative carp, the giant gourami and the sturgeon are unusual species from Asia. The longnose gar from North America is a particularly fine specimen. And of course we should not forget the ravenous piranhas, the South American electric eel and the moving and flickering lights of the eery lantern fish.
Planetarium
Next to Artis's main entrance is a modern building with walls of blue glass surmounted by an enormous copper dome: the Artis Planetarium. Here, from the comfort of an easy chair, we can journey back to the earliest roots of our existence. The huge star projector, which nestles within the 20-metre dome like a giant insect, faithfully reproduces the celestial bodies of the night sky. The Planetarium allows us to see the configurations from anywhere in the world at any given moment. This might be the position of the stars now, in the future or at some point in the distant past. The sun, moon and the planets can also be seen, their relative positions endlessly changing. The Artis Planetarium, with its enormous projection dome of 640 square metres, is not only equipped with the famous Zeiss star projector, but also has at its disposal over 100 projectors for displaying slides, videos and special effects. The Planetarium's shows represent the precisely coordinated interaction of all of these technical facilities, with the magnificent sound system adding immensely to the spectacle. The music for the main performances is specially composed for the occasion. Every day, the Artis Planetarium gives shows for children and school parties, as well as performances for the whole family. Summaries of the text of the Planetarium shows in English. French, German and Spanish are available at the Planetarium Counter.
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