Gardens and Parks

HORTUS BOTANICUS

The old educational garden, the Hortus Botanicus, is no longer used for research purposes. On this small piece of land you can, however, trace the changing views on classifying plants and on garden design. One of the gardens is the Regius Garden, a 17th-century educational garden for medical students. The 18th-century Orangery, in which tropical and subtropical plants survive the winter, is a unique experience. The contemporary cottage garden with decorative plants is a sight for sore eyes. The botanical gardens also boast the oldest Ginkgo Biloba of Europe.

PANDHOF

The Pandhof garden is a part of the Dom complex. It is an idyllic, decorative garden with authentic elements of convent gardens. Both medieval decorative plants, such as the stock, and medicinal plants, spices and plants used for their pigment still grow here. The foxglove in these gardens is used as a remedy for arrhythmia. All plants are classified by color or species. The flowerbeds and the statue of the reading canon are beautiful embellishments of this cloister.

HOOFDDIJK FORTRESS BOTANICAL GARDEN

The botanical gardens around Hoofddijk Fortress are highlights among Utrecht’s attractions. These gardens comprise, among other gardens, Holland’s largest rock garden, a prize-winning system garden and a tropical and subtropical collection of plants. The theme garden is an educational garden with facilities for visually impaired visitors.

PANDHOF VIRGIN MARY

This 11th-century Roman cloister used to be a part of the former Church of the Virgin Mary. It is very relaxing to walk around this historical spot with its over 300 types of plants while snatches of music from the music school can be heard. This garden boasts old botanical, medicinal and biblical plants. The pride of the gardeners is their collection of Lady plants; the largest in Holland.

BRUNTENHOF

The garden behind Bruntenhof is a hidden gem which will pleasantly surprise you when you discover it. This was a communal garden to the dwellings which Frederick Brunt had built here for poor widows in 1621. In those days the widows did not have to pay any rent and they received free food and fuel. These days the occants pay a nominal rent. When the garden was restored, from 1979 to 1981, it was redesigned with types of plants which fit in with the 17th-century character of a formal garden. In addition, the garden also has plants which the occupants of the complex have planted just because they like them.

GRIFT PARK

Just outside the canal area lies Grift Park, established in 1999. This modern city park comprises a large lawn area, a pond and a natural area, adorned by three gigantic sculptures by Thomas Schutte. Grift Park is an inter-active park. The skate course and basketball court draw many visitors. Children will enjoy themselves for hours in the large playground with the hammocks, swings, huts and the children’s farm with dairy kitchen.

LEPELENBURG PARK

Lepelenburg Park is a very pleasant park. Architect Zocher and his son designed it in the middle of the 19th century. It is a great place for picnics as it is close to the water and the tall trees along Maliesingel. In summer white deck chairs invite you to rest your weary feet. Famous garden architect Jan David Zocher Junior and his son Paul Zocher designed the park between 1859 and 1861. In those days the inner city became far too crowded. To attractively expand the city the fortress walls were pulled down and parks were laid out. The bulwarks, such as Lepelenburg, were the final projects.

WILHELMINAPARK

Wilhelmina Park is very popular with the Utrecht people. The old, tall trees make a great spot for walks. Look up and be amazed at the huge variety of trees in this park. The lawn is great for a game of soccer, a picnic or a sunbathing session.