ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo
The name of this zoo, which was the first of its kind in the Netherlands, is short for Natura Artis Magistra (Nature Is the Teacher of the Arts). Founded in 1838, the park has more than 900 species of animals, more than 200 species of trees, a butterfly pavilion, an insectarium, and beautiful 19th-century architecture, of which the aquarium (closed for renovations until 2025) is a fine example. The Micropia, the world's first museum dedicated to microbes, has lots of interactive exhibits. It provides insights into the importance played by micro-organisms like bacteria, algae, and viruses and their essential role in life on earth (not only as bringers of diseases like COVID). ARTIS-Groote Museum, which reopened in 2022 after a 75-year absence and a major renovation, aims to answer all the big questions about life on earth.
