Sea­so­nal Ope­ning Bo­ta­nic Gar­dens

The time has come: as of Sunday 1 March, the Utrecht University Botanic Gardens will once again open their gates to visitors. The first snowdrops are already peeking through the soil and spring is in the air. What can you expect this year across our ten hectares of greenery?

New Developments
During winter closure, extensive work has been carried out on both maintenance and major developments in the Gardens:

• The bank side protection surrounding Fort Hoofddijk has been renewed and further reinforced;
• The terrace of Garden café Botanica is being redesigned, including the flower beds and terrace layout, so you will soon be able to enjoy a bite or a drink in even greater comfort;
• The renovation of our greenhouses is well underway. During winter closure, a large part of the plant collection has been relocated to external sites in preparation for the demolition of the current greenhouses. The new greenhouses will be more sustainable and offer improved facilities for high-quality plant research. This means the greenhouses will temporarily be closed to visitors, but no worries, the Gardens offer a year programme full of engaging activities!

A Look Ahead
This year, the Botanic Gardens’ programme revolves around the theme ‘Spreading wings and settling down’: how do plants actually ‘travel’ from one place to another? Does this differ between urban and rural environments, and what role do humans play in this process? In addition, we will be celebrating Utrecht University’s 390th anniversary with a range of lustrum activities. Some highlights:

• The ongoing exhibition Spreading wings and settling down;
• The ‘Aanwaaiers’ project: contribute to scientific research on biodiversity from your own garden or balcony and discover which plants ‘settle down’ in your pot of soil;
• Family activities throughout the year, including 'Garden Lab' and 'Join the expert', with the first edition taking place on 1 March;
• Utrecht University lustrum activities, including student performances during UUnited on Tour and several open-air cinema evenings;
• Various treasure hunts for children;
• ‘Campsite Botanic Gardens’: following last year’s success, you can once again spend one night in the Botanic Gardens in your own tent.

Interested in discovering more activities in the Gardens? View our complete annual programme.

Let your curiosity blossom and come visit us from March 1! The Botanic Gardens are open daily from 10am until 4:30pm.

Plan your visit at www.uu.nl/en/botanischetuinen

Images: Botanische Tuinen Universiteit Utrecht