Natura Artis Magistra

Gerard Westerman, J.W.H. Werlemann, and J.J. Wijsmuller established the zoo in 1838. At first, it was only accessible to members. It was made accessible to the public every September beginning in 1851. Despite being accessible to the public all year long since 1920, September is still discounted.

The board of the zoological association "Natura Artis Magistra" acquired the majority of the existing zoo site, which was formerly the "Middenhof" estate, late in 1838 in the Plantage, a rural region on the outskirts of Amsterdam. It featured both live and mounted specimens right away.

Zoo and botanical park Natura Artis Magistra also referred to as Artis, are located in the heart of Amsterdam. It is among the oldest zoos in all of continental Europe and the oldest in the Netherlands. Along with the zoo, Artis also houses an aquarium, a planetarium, an arboretum, and a sizable collection of paintings and sculptures. The zoo's Aquarium building has a portion of the art collection on exhibit. Artis is a special location of 19th-century cultural history because it has 27 historically significant buildings, bridges, and ponds, the majority of which are still in use as animal enclosures.

Year Established: 1838
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands