Amsterdam - Botanical Garden

(Local Name: Hortus Botanicus) The botanical garden of the municipal university, with its exotic flowers, trees and plants, dates back to the time of the monastery herb gardens. The Vlooienburg botanical garden (with some 2,000 native trees, plants, herbs and shrubs) came into existence in 1554 with the publication of a book about plants which described not only the plants themselves but also their healing properties. The garden was frequently relocated and enlarged and in 1877 became the property of the university. The Vrije University also maintains a botanical garden.