Utrecht University Botanic Gardens
Botanische Tuinen Utrecht
A university botanic garden on the 19th-century Fort Hoofddijk, combining a rock garden, greenhouses and fortress walls.
The Utrecht University Botanic Gardens lie in the university district east of the city, built on Fort Hoofddijk, a 19th-century fort of the New Dutch Waterline surrounded by a moat. The most famous feature is the large rock garden built against the fort's slope, planted with mountain plants from around the world. There are also tropical greenhouses, a butterfly house and a plant systematics garden showing evolutionary relationships. Admission is about 10 euros, and a visit takes about 1.5 hours. From Utrecht Centraal, take a bus for about 20 minutes to Utrecht Science Park station, then walk about 10 minutes.
Opening hours
Approx. Mar–Nov 10:00–17:00 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Amelisweerd
- Rietveld Schröder House
- Fort bij Vechten (Waterline Museum)
- Dutch Railway Museum
- Miffy Museum
- Centraal Museum
- Nieuwegracht
- Museum Catharijneconvent