Utrecht Botanic Gardens

Utrecht, Netherlands

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The Utrecht Botanic Gardens in the Netherlands are among the oldest university gardens still in existence, originally established in 1639, three years after Utrecht University was founded.

They began as a medicinal garden on the Sonnenborgh bastion and later moved to the site of the current University Museum in 1723. Today’s Botanic Gardens, located at Utrecht Science Park, were developed starting in the 1960s and feature diverse collections including a large rock garden built atop historical military bunkers, tropical greenhouses, an Evolution Garden, and a unique Discovery Garden designed for education and play.

The gardens hold over 10,000 plant species from around the world and continue to support research, education, and public enjoyment, combining historical legacy with modern botanical science.