Museum garden: Oude Hortus

Enjoy the beauty of the Oude Hortus museum gardens

You will find Oude Hortus, formerly the Utrecht University botanical gardens, tucked away in the city centre of Utrecht.

Twisting paths

As you stroll amongst the beautiful plants, majestic trees and fragrant flowers, you will almost forget you are in the heart of the city. Something is always in bloom at Oude Hortus. While the first flowering plants characteristic of old country estates and rectory gardens in the Netherlands (i.e. stinsenplanten) begin to peep through the soil in January, certain rose varieties don’t lose their last leaves until December. To get a very close look at the plants, take a walk along the small twisting paths.

Extensive history

In 1723, the Hortus Botanicus university gardens were moved to Lange Nieuwstraat. Today, remnants of the garden’s long history are still reflected in the modern landscaping: the medical and botanical sciences, in particular, have greatly influenced the layout of this wide range of plant species.

Volunteers

The gardens are tended by a group of enthusiastic volunteers, under the supervision of a gardener. Together, they preserve the beauty of Oude Hortus, all year round.