Photo from iamsterdam.com

Photo from iamsterdam.com

For nearly four centuries, Amsterdam’s Hortus Botanicus has regaled visitors with its lush greenhouses and exotic plants. Originally founded in 1638 to serve as a herb garden for the city’s doctors and pharmacists, it’s one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.

An oasis in the centre of the city

The Hortus Botanicus offers a tranquil haven from the hustle and bustle of the city surrounding it and contains over 6,000 different indigenous and non-native trees and plants. In addition to a gorgeous cafe, outdoor gardens, and a ‘hothouse’ that emulates three different tropical environments, hundreds of majestic butterflies can be found frolicking inside the Botanicus’ Butterfly Greenhouse.