interessant.in / Utrecht / Museum

At the canal of Oudegracht you will find a bit of "Down Under", honoring the contemporary art of the original inhabitants of the Australian continent, the Aboriginals. The Aboriginal Art Museum Utrecht (AAMU) regularly offers thematical exhibitions along with the regular collection.

The power of wood

Opening Saturday April 25th is The power of wood, in which wooden objects get the center stage. Creating wooden objects stems from a long tradition in the Australian Aboriginal cultures. You will see sculptures, poles, a broad selection of paintings on tree bark and dazzling installations of richly decorated didgeridoos and objects such as boomerangs, bowls and shields.

Tour de France

Of course the famous international bicycling race, Tour de France, does not pass unnoticed; The projects "Art Bikes" and "Tour Down Under" connect art to cyclism. More details about these projects can be found on the AAMU website.

Photos:

• Exterior: Anna van Kooij
• Tour: Marnix Schmidt.

History

The history of the gardens, intended for research and education, goes back to 1639. Initially, these gardens were located at nearby Sonnenborgh, but were moved in 1723 to this location because of insufficient space. After World War Two the botanical gardens were moved to Science Park Utrecht (de Uithof), but fortunately the location on Lange Nieuwstraat was preserved, mostly thanks to a foundation of friends of the Old Hortus and the University Museum moving to this location.

What will you find here?

Within the Hortus you will find several gardens, such as the Regius garden (intended to grow and research medicinal plants and herbs) and a cottage garden. In the renovated greenhouses you will find a variety of plants. The most famous inhabitants of the Old Hortus are probably the Ginkgo Biloba or Japanese Nut Tree, sometimes called Temple Tree, (about 250 years old and possibly the first Ginkgo in Europe) and the Victoria Amazonica, a huge waterlily with a cross section of 5 to 6 feet that blooms at night.  The website of the Hortus offers an overview of plants and trees you may find there.

Part of Utrecht University

The Botanical Gardens go back to 1639, when the first hortus was set up at the Sonnenborgh location (where you will now find the Sonnenborgh museum and observatorium). The gardens have moved several times since and are now located at Utrecht Science Park (de Uithof). The gardens initially served research and education, but gradually the public function and nature preservation became important objectives as well. And that is why we can now enjoy the beauty of nature here.

Multiple gardens

You will find six completely different gardens here, each hosting their specific biotopes: The Rock Garden (one of the largest in Europe), the System Garden, the subtropical greenhouses, the Outer Fortress (the Botanical Gardens are located on the grounds of a former fortress), the Topical Garden and the Tiny Creatures Garden.

The Gardens are meticulously maintained, with the exception of the Outer Fortress, where the purpose is to maintain a 'poor' state, so local vegetation can sustain itself here. As a result, this zone can become quite savage.

The Botanical Gardens are opened daily between March 1st and December 1st and located within the Utrecht Science Park de Uithof.