Artis - History

History

The zoo was founded in 1838 by Gerard Westerman, J.W.H. Werlemann and J.J. Wijsmuller (also known as the three Ws). It was initially open only to members. Starting in 1851 it was opened to the public during the month of September. In 1920 it was opened year-round to the public, but September remains discount month.

The core of the current zoo property, then the "Middenhof" estate, was purchased by the board of the Zoological Society "Natura Artis Magistra" late in 1938 in the Plantage, which was then a rural area on the outskirts of Amsterdam. From the start it exhibited both live and mounted specimens.

The zoo is commonly referred to as Artis, because the zoo has three gates with Natura Artis Magistra written above them. Usually only the middle gate was open, so people who walked through that gate, looked what was written above it and saw 'Artis', thinking that the zoo was just called Artis. Soon few knew it as Natura Artis Magistra.

The last quagga in captivity died at Artis on 12 August 1883. At the time all Zebras were referred to as quagga, so nobody realized that this was the last quagga alive until years later. The last quagga has been stuffed and is now on display at the zoological museum at Artis.