The Oude Hortus (Old Hortus), Utrecht

Nestled in the heart of Utrecht, The Old Hortus (Oude Hortus) is a serene green escape, offering a moment of tranquility away from the city's daily hustle. Once the botanical garden of Utrecht University from 1723 to 1920, this historic site has evolved into a museum garden, providing visitors with a glimpse into centuries of botanical history.

The garden is divided into several sections, including a cottage garden and the Regiustuin, a medicinal garden inspired by early botanical research. It is home to a remarkable variety of plants and trees, including one of the oldest Ginkgo biloba trees in the Netherlands, over 250 years old.

The origins of the botanical garden in Utrecht date back to 1639, but it was in 1723 that the hortus botanicus settled between Nieuwegracht and Lange Nieuwstraat. After losing its function as a university botanical garden in 1920, many of its plants were transferred to Cantonspark in Baarn and the greenhouses on Lange Nieuwstraat. The site saw gradual transformations, including a period when parts of it served as a parking lot.

By the 1960s, as Utrecht University shifted its facilities to De Uithof, the garden's botanical role diminished. However, in 1991, its fate took a turn when the Friends of the Oude Hortus Foundation—a group of residents, Rotary Club members, and volunteers—stepped in to preserve and redesign the space. This effort culminated in 1996 when the Utrecht University Museum was established in the former Botanical Laboratory, and the garden was officially recognized as a museum garden under the name Oude Hortus.

Today, The Old Hortus offers not only a retreat for relaxation but also a window into three and a half centuries of botanical evolution. It remains a hidden gem for visitors seeking inspiration, a quiet stroll, or simply a cup of coffee amidst history and nature.