Activities specially for Friends

For our Friends, we organise a number of exclusive activities every year. You can see below what's planned for 2026. Not a Friend yet? Then become a Friend today and contribute to important projects on nature education and biodiversity in the Botanic Gardens.

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Monarchvlinder

Thursday, February 26
Lecture: 'Butterflies' (in Dutch)

This evening, Nick Meijdam will take you on a journey through everything you’ve always wanted to know about butterflies. You will learn about eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalises, as well as their wings and the enormous diversity of colors, shapes, and species. Did you know, for example, that an estimated 255,000 species of butterflies live on Earth? Please note that this lecture will be in Dutch.
Advance registration is required; please send an email to vrienden.botanischetuinen@uu.nl

More information and application
Het vernieuwde UMU

Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Tour Old Hortus and visit UMU (FULL)

This afternoon we are guests of the renovated University Museum (UMU). At 1:30 PM we will have a guided tour of the Old Hortus. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to visit UMU on your own. Friends did receive an invitation per e-mail. This activity quickly filled up (there is room for a maximum of 15 people.) So unfortunately, registration is no longer possible. Possibly some consolation: with your Friends Pass of the Botanic Gardens, you have free access to the UMU and the Old Hortus. So you can always visit at your own time.

Cover brochure Index Seminum Vrienden

29 March 2026 | 11 am - 5 pm
Exclusive to Friends: free seeds during Spring Weekend

During the traditional Spring Weekend, Friends will have the opportunity to collect three bags of seeds specially selected for them. All Friends will receive a brochure by post at the end of February with more information on the fourteen selected seeds from which to choose. This year, collection will take place in the HU greenhouse (Hogeschoolkas) in the Botanic Gardens, between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. At 1:00 p.m., you can also attend a lecture by Martin Smit. He is curator at the Gardens and will speak about research into the historical seed lists.

More activities

Of course, there is much more beauty to experience in the Gardens.In the agenda you will find a list of all activities, courses, treasure hunts for children and much more.

To the full calendar