Utrecht Botanic Gardens

The Utrecht Botanic Gardens belong to Utrecht University and lie on the eastern edge of the city, in the grounds of Fort Hoofddijk, a nineteenth-century military fort that was once part of the defences protecting the city. The old moats, earth walls and brick buildings of the fort give the garden an unusual setting, and visitors who walk in through the gate find a sheltered green space that feels far removed from the busy city and the nearby university campus. It is both a living museum and a place of research and teaching.

The collections include thousands of plant species from different climates around the world. A series of greenhouses holds tropical and subtropical plants, among them orchids, palms, ferns and carnivorous species, in conditions of warmth and humidity that offer a welcome refuge on a cold day. Outdoors, the gardens are arranged in different zones, including rock gardens, alpine slopes, a pond area and beds that show the structure of plant families and the way plants fit into ecosystems. An interactive section organised around themes helps visitors understand how plants adapt to their environment.

Botanic gardens have a long history in the Netherlands. The first university gardens were created in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, mainly to grow medicinal plants for the training of physicians, and they became centres for the exchange of plants brought back from trading voyages to Asia, Africa and the Americas. Utrecht's garden dates back to the seventeenth century, shortly after the founding of the university, and it has moved several times. The plants in the collection still support research on topics such as conservation and climate adaptation.

Seasonal changes add variety. Spring brings bulbs and blossoms, summer offers colourful borders and a full canopy of leaves, autumn gives rich tones and winter brings a quiet charm, with the greenhouses at their best. The paths are mostly level and easy, and there are benches, a cafe and a small shop. The gardens are open on most days from early spring to early winter, so check the season and hours before travelling.

The gardens suit nature lovers, families, students and photographers. Combine a visit with the campus and a bike ride into the countryside, or with the sights of the city centre. Allow one to two hours, and bring a camera.