I haven't been to the zoo in a very, very long time, and my decision to visit this one was a bit of…read morea surprise. My plane arrived early in the day, so I got to my hotel well before the room was ready. I was able to stash my luggage in the housekeeping area until check-in, but what's to do with myself for five hours? Enter Artis. Located just had a block from my hotel, this was a natural choice. It's probably not exactly what you have in mind when you think of a zoo. Instead, it seems more like a giant, beautifully-maintained park full of gardens that happens to contain animal exhibits, a planetarium, playgrounds, and fun interactive things for kiddos and the young at heart. (I am DELIGHTED that the tulips are still going strong.) As soon as you enter the park, you pass through some absolutely lovely flowerbeds, complete with benches for basking in their beauty. From there, you have your choice: there are so many things to see and do! In addition to the habitats that have multiple layers of fencing (and/or moats, and/or electrical fences, and/or signs warning about sharp beaks, teeth, and claws--I'm looking at you, jaguar and griffin vulture), there are some habitats that let you get up close to the animals, too. There's a lemur zone, where the lemurs lounge in trees just next to the path. There are indoor areas where you can walk right through a primate habitat or bird habitat. There's a butterfly habitat! It's a real treat, and everywhere you go, there are helpful people ready to tell you the funny story about how a bad taxidermy job got the emperor tamirin its name or point out the adorable Pygmy marmoset hanging out right next to you. It really is a wonderful place, ideal for kids and adults, groups and singles, and anyone who loves nature. It's a really nice group of guests--everyone is kind, and people are happy to point out the bird that is hiding behind the bush or the frog that is in that rolled-up leaf, and the youngest guests get super excited when you point out the massive walking stick or the capybara that is taking a nap right next to the fence. I got lots of steps in and enjoyed every minute of it. Absolutely recommend.

Artis Zoo completely surprised me in the best way and ended up being one of my favorite experiences…read morein Amsterdam. From the moment you walk in, it feels less like a typical zoo and more like a beautifully designed park that just happens to be filled with animals. The grounds are stunning, with wide walking paths, old trees, and historic buildings that give it a really unique charm you don't usually get at zoos. The enclosures are thoughtfully done, and you can tell there's a real focus on animal care and creating natural environments. There's a great mix of animals too, from the big, iconic ones to smaller, more unique species that are just as interesting to watch. What really stood out was how peaceful it felt. Even with other visitors around, it never felt chaotic or overcrowded, which made it easy to take your time and actually enjoy each area. It's the kind of place where you can wander for hours without realizing how much time has passed. If you're visiting Amsterdam, I can't recommend Artis enough. It's the perfect mix of relaxing, interesting, and genuinely enjoyable -- whether you're into animals or just want a beautiful place to spend a few hours.

Wonderful zoo, arguably one of the top in the Netherlands. Each animal has a lovely habitat and…read morelots to see and do there. Great place of families with young kids with several playgrounds in the zoo. In particular the indoor playground is perfect for rainy days. Feels like we go there for the playground, and see animals along the way going there! The baby elephant is adorable, the tigers and the polar bears both very cool. One time we actually say the rhino playing around and a giraffe chasing a goose!

A tad pricey but it was really one of the best zoo's I've been too. My hubby had to work in…read moreRotterdam so he sent me and our two girls off to find the zoo. We started off with the sealife area, had CA sea lions up first lol being from CA which we've seen but they were really active, swimming and barking. Their aquarium is really beautiful with so many window displays including a large glass tunnel that had the most amazing views of the sharks, stingrays and fish swimming over your head. The kids were so excited to be surrounded like you were underwater swimming with them. We saw so much and everything was so in your face it was amazing. The kids loved seeing the tiger exhibit they came up right up to the window *although there were some middle school kids there on a fieldtrip or something and they were being super annoying banging and yelling at the windows. I wish there was some park employee there to tell them to knock that sht off! In fact, come to thing of it I don't recall seeing any caretakers or park employees in any of the outdoor exhibits. But moving on, my personal favorite and you must see is the Amazon exhibit. You walk into this and bamm the heat hits your face. You are in a jungle of flowers, plants/trees and there are butterflies small and LARGE flying in your face. I had to hold my shreeks and my hands down as my initial inclination was to scream and swat something that is flying in my face. LOL! The butterflies would stop and feed from these large flower feeders, it was really beautiful to see them so close while the fed. I highly recommend you visit this zoo if you're in Rotterdam. It took us 4 hours to go through the zoo and really enjoy it and maybe because we went during the off season and middle of the week but it wasn't crowded at all which made it more enjoyable. They have a cafe, gift shop and snack shops through out.

This zoo was so beautiful and green such a wonderful zoo to visit. I take it a point to go to zoos…read morein every city I can in the US and this one has got to be one of the best zoos I've ever visited. It's not too big and not too small and the atmosphere feels like you're right there walking with the animals. Also, there is a discount if you go after 2:00 and we still had plenty of time to spare!

One of my favorite zoos in Holland, kind of out there but a lot of cool animals who seem to have…read morefreedom

Not the first time we have been to Burgers' Zoo, but it remains great. The zoo is build up out of…read moredifferent areas, such as Safari, Bush, Desert, Mangrove etc. Every single area is landscaped lovely with nice animal displays according to the theme. Our favourite: the Mangrove area with manatees and butterflies. The disappointment: the Bush which is lovely in nature, but no animals are visible. Overall, a great visit.

What can I say? This is the best zoo in the world. The habitats are unparalleled and unlike…read moreanything I've seen anywhere else. You are so close to the animals and you can tell they are happy there not being in traditional cages. The animals are also all mixed...just like the wild. This zoo is the next best thing to an African safari and a fraction of the price so don't leave Arnhem without visiting!

Really cool petting zoo and good-size park full of exciting outdoor activities, both physical and…read moreeducational. Access costs 7.50 euro for both adults and kids (under 2 years old is free) but if you live nearby a season ticket makes much more sense as it's cheaper after only 3 visits. There are obstacle courses (including one above shallow water), slides, swings, and boats to spend time on the lake. On the nature side, you can watch and pet a range of animals, there are beehives and an "insect hotel", and there are educational displays to learn about different plants. I found it closed a bit early (6 PM during summer time) while it won't get dark till much later. Still I'd highly recommend this place.

Leuk voor de hele familie of gewoon een mooie wandeling langs alle dieren…read more Ondertussen lekker koffie op een terrasje of iets anders En voor de kinderen is er genoeg te doen Echt leuk

Opa's 80th birthday and we decided to go to Ouwehands Zoo. It was busy on a very sunny last day of…read morethe summer. Highlights for me were the colourful mandrills, the very active pandas, the red pandas, the sea lion show as well as the most spectacular bear and wolf enclosure I have ever seen. A very enjoyable visit.