The Hortus botanicus reopens on 1 June
Great news! From Whit Monday at noon, the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands will be open for visitors again. After twelve weeks of closure, visitors will be able to come and enjoy everything that grows and blossoms in the heart of Leiden's city center. In order to offer all visitors and staff a safe visit, extra safety measures are in place.
Tropical feeling in the Netherlands
From the 1st of June it is possible to experience the holiday feeling close to home among the beautiful green riches of the Hortus botanicus. During a walk in the garden, visitors can enjoy the spring and tropical plants. In order to offer all visitors a safe and convenient walk through the garden, the Hortus has taken various safety measures and drawn up visitor conditions. More information can be found on the website.
The three sisters
Until now, the summer exhibition From Columbus to Mayflower could only be visited online, but that will change as of June 1st. Last week gardener Richard planted three crops in the garden, namely corn, bean and pumpkin. Together they are also called the Three Sisters. After the discovery of the New World, these three commonly used food products traveled all over the globe. They support each other perfectly and were therefore always planted together in the field.
Hortus at home
You can still enjoy the Hortus from home. For example, the aforementioned exhibition From Columbus to Mayflower can still be visited online. With the Stoepplantjes (Pavement plants) project, plant enthusiasts can use sidewalk chalk to point out wild plants. The goal: creating more appreciation for wild plants – or weeds – that grow on the pavement. The Hortus also keeps its fans informed via social media about the flowering beauty with the hashtag #hortusathome.
Visitor's information
From 1 June, the Hortus will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Whit Monday from 12 p.m.). Booking an online time slot is mandatory for all visitors, including Friends and Museum Card holders. There is a separate queue for Friends and Museum Card Holders. Within the time lock of 15 minutes you may enter the Hortus. After that, a maximum stay of 2 hours applies. In this way, the Hortus wants to avoid long queues and crowds at the ticket office and ensure that visitors are spread throughout the garden. Reservations can be made here.
Food and drinks can be reserved in the special pop-up café in the Oranjerie. In addition, the Grand Café has been transformed into a takeaway point for food and drinks.