Natura Artis Magistra (

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

for "Nature is the teacher of the arts"), commonly known just as Artis (), is a

zoo A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes. The term ''zoological garden'' refers to z ...

and botanical garden in the centre of

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...

. It is the oldest zoo in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

and fifth oldest zoo in the world. In addition to the zoo, Artis also contains an

aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...

, a

planetarium A planetarium ( planetariums or ''planetaria'') is a Theater (structure), theatre built primarily for presenting educational entertainment, educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navi ...

, an

arboretum An arboretum (plural: arboreta) in a general sense is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, man ...

, Micropia, and the Groote Museum. A part of the art collection is on display in the aquarium building of the zoo. Artis contains 27 historically significant (listed) buildings, bridges, and ponds, most of which are still used as animal enclosures. The zoo is a member of the Dutch Zoo Federation (NVD), the

European Association of Zoos and Aquaria The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), is an organisation for the European zoo and aquarium community that links over 340 member organisations in 41 countries. EAZA membership is open to all zoos and aquaria across Europe that compl ...

(EAZA), Species360, the

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the "umbrella" organization for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal ca ...

(WAZA) and the (NVBT).

History

Oprichters Artis JJ Wijsmuller GF Westerman en JWH Werlemann

The zoo was founded in 1838 by Gerard Westerman, J.W.H. Werlemann and J.J. Wijsmuller (also known as the three Ws). It was initially open only to members. Starting in 1851 it was opened to the public during the month of September. In 1920 it was opened year-round to the public, but September remains discount month. The core of the current zoo property, then the "Middenhof" estate, was purchased by the board of the zoological society "Natura Artis Magistra" late in 1838 in the

Plantage Plantage is a neighbourhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands located in its Centrum borough. It is bordered by the Entrepotdok to the north, Plantage Muidergracht to the east and south and Nieuwe Herengracht to the west. In the centre of the neighbour ...

, which was then a rural area on the outskirts of Amsterdam. From the start it exhibited both live and mounted specimens. The zoo is commonly referred to as Artis, because the zoo has three gates with the words 'Natura', 'Artis', and 'Magistra' written above each of them, respectively. More often than not, only the middle gate was open, so that people who walked through it, seeing that 'Artis' was written above it, believed that the zoo was just called Artis. Thanks to this, soon few people knew it by its full name: Natura Artis Magistra. The last quagga in captivity died at Artis on 12 August 1883. At the time, because all zebras were referred to as quagga, nobody realized that this was the last quagga alive until years later.

Historic buildings

Artis includes 27 historic buildings. The aquarium was built in 1882 on land leased from the city on condition that only a museum ever be built on it. The library dates back to 1867 and the building the 'Ledenlokalen' on the right side of the main entrance dates back to the 19th century as well. The wolf house (formerly an inn), and the Masman Garden House which now houses scarlet ibis were both on the site before the zoo was established.

Library

Artis has a library on the history of zoology and botany. It houses the library of the zoo, as well as the libraries of the

Zoological Museum Amsterdam The Zoological Museum Amsterdam (ZMA) was a natural history museum located close to Oosterpark in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was part of the Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science (Science) of the University of Amsterdam. It was o ...

and the Amsterdam Botanical Garden. It also hosts the archives of a number of zoologists and botanists, such as the archive of

Hugo de Vries Hugo Marie de Vries () (16 February 1848 – 21 May 1935) was a Dutch botanist and one of the first geneticists. He is known chiefly for suggesting the concept of genes, rediscovering the laws of heredity in the 1890s while apparently unaware o ...

. It contains 20,000 books, 3000 manuscripts and 80,000 animal prints. The library is part of the special collections of the

University of Amsterdam The University of Amsterdam (abbreviated as UvA, nl, Universiteit van Amsterdam) is a public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The UvA is one of two large, publicly funded research universities in the city, the other being ...

Gallery

File:Artis-turtles-Photo-by-Persian-Dutch-Network-2006.jpg, Aldabra tortoises at Artis File:Artis-camel-Photo-by-Persian-Dutch-Network.jpg, Camels at Artis File:Artis-aquarium-Photo-by-Persian-Dutch-Network2006.jpg, Artis aquarium File:Southern Crowned Pigeon in Artis, 2006.jpg, Crowned pigeons at Artis File:ARTIS-Zoo-Amsterdam-Photo-by-Persian-Dutch-Network.JPG, There are no longer any orangutans at Artis File:Tomistoma schlegelii at Artis, Amsterdam Zoo, 2006.jpg, Crocodiles at Artis File:Artis Zoo - Amsterdam, Holland.jpg, Dreams - A rock facade in Artis File:Sea-Lion-bronze-sculpture-by-Anthony-Smith-at-Natura-Artis-Magistra.jpg, Bronze sea lion sculpture by Anthony Smith at Artis

Notes

References

External links

* {{authority control 1838 establishments in the Netherlands Aquaria in Europe Buildings and structures in Amsterdam Museums in Amsterdam Natural history museums in the Netherlands Parks in Amsterdam Planetaria in the Netherlands Tourist attractions in Amsterdam Zoos in the Netherlands