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Due to national policy relating to the coronavirus (covid-19) the Hortus will remain closed for public up to and including April 6 2020. Leiden University decided on that today. Follow our website and social media for further information.
The Hortus botanicus Leiden will be highlighting the plants that made the Atlantic crossing in the exhibition From Columbus to the Mayflower: seeds over the sea, from 9 April to 26 November 2020.
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Exhibtion with watercolor paintings by scientific illustrator Esmée Winkel about the unique orchid collection of the Hortus of Leiden. On show from 6 March to 29 April 2020 in the Old University Library. Only on Monday - to Friday. A must for orchid and art lovers.
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The genus Fritillaria L. (Liliaceae) has around 140 species, all of which occur in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. More than half of those species are protected and are in danger of becoming extinct, mainly due to changes in the area where they occur and through use for medicinal purposes or as an ornamental plant. In collaboration with the Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw, the Hortus shows a number of information panels about this genus. Extra Fritillaria native are also planted in the garden, and some Fritillaria will be blooming in the Bulb glasshouse. Do not expect a massive bloom, but you will be able to make beautiful pictures and see a few jewels of flowers.
Photo: University of Warsaw, Krystyna Jędrzejewska-Szmek
From Monday December 23 up to and including Wednesday January 1 Hortus botanicus is closed. From Thursday January 2 onwards, from 10 o'clock in the morning, you're welcome to visit our gardens and glasshouses once again. We wish you a warm holiday season.
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On December 9, our colleague Gerda van Uffelen officially retired from her position as Head of Collections. She worked at the Hortus for no less than 26 years! We celebrated Gerda and her many years here with a goodbye lunch. There she was presented with a tulip that’s named after her: Tulipa ‘Gerda’, a beautiful reddish pink fringed tulip.
Alongside her colleagues and volunteers, taxonomist and librarian for the Royal General Flower Bulb Association (KAVB) and owner of the KTK tulip association Christian Kolk were also present during the unveiling of the tulip. They’re responsible for naming new tulip varieties.
Incidentally, making a new tulip variety is a lengthy process for which patience is needed. Two different tulip varieties are crossbred, and seed will form in the pistil. Every single seed is a new tulip, but they have to be replanted every year for a couple years for the bulbs to grow large enough, until colored flowers start to appear. So Tulipa ‘Gerda’ has been a long time coming! If everything works out the way we want it, the bulbs will be available for purchase in our Hortus shop by next year.
Luckily her retirement lunch wasn’t really goodbye, because Gerda will continue working for the Hortus as a visiting staff member.
The Hortus hasn’t just been playing an important role in the development of botany for decades, but in medicine too. When the Hortus was founded in 1590, its original purpose was to facilitate research into medicinal plants. Throughout the ages, many important physicians and monarchs visited our prestigious university in Leiden. One of those was Peter the Great, who was the tzar of Russia from 1682 until 1725.
This was a turning point for innovation in Russian medicine. And not only that, because during one of his visits to Amsterdam Peter the Great met famed Dutch botanist and anatomist Frederik Ruijsch (1638-1731). Ruijsch was known for his preparations, which were essentially body parts preserved in formaldehyde. The Great was so impressed by these preparations, he purchased Ruijsch’ entire collection and brought them back to Russia.
Ages later, now a couple of years ago, Russia expert and PhD-researcher from LUMC Inge F. Hendriks was conducting research in the Military Medical Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was there that she discovered a small collection of Ruijsch’s preparations that were never exhibited to the public, something the Military Medical Museum now intends on doing after all those years.
To make this collection more approachable for the public, the Military Medical Museum started making a documentary about the subject. Because of the close historical bond that the University of Leiden and Military Medical Museum share, the crew came to the Netherlands to capture footage of the Academy buildings, the Senator’s hall and of course, the Hortus botanicus. They all played an important part in the medical history between Russia and the Netherlands.
And while they were here, it was a great (photo) opportunity for Paul Keßler to meet the Military Medical Museum’s vice president Dmitry Zhuravlev, film producer Roman Tamchenko and researcher Inge Hendriks, who accompanied them on their trip.
A little over ten AM on the 26th of November 2019 we welcomed our 180.000th visitor: Mrs. Bourgondy from France, with her grandson Theo. She visits the Hortus every time she comes to the Netherlands. After director Paul Kessler handed her the congratulatory bouquet, her grandson only wanted one thing: to see the fish!
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The Old Observatory visitors centre is opened Monday 21 to Friday 25 October between 12:00 and 16:00. because of the Dutch autumn holidays. Please note: there are no additional tours offered.
The Hortus botanicus Leiden is closed on Thursday 3 October due to the celebrations of the relief of Leiden in 1574.
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Every Thursday in July and August at 4 PM our experienced guides walk through the garden with you. This year they pay extra attention to plants that are related to health. Enjoy their stories outside, the monumental Hortus trees and summer flowering bulbs. Directly at the cash desk €4,00 above regular entrance, with an e-ticket €2,50 above regular entrance. No need to book in advance, just come along!
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The Hortus botanicus Leiden has received an inheritance of 5 million Euro. This is a gift from the estate of Carla van Steijn, who was a loyal visitor to the Hortus during her lifetime. In accordance with her wishes, the gift will be used for new activities and to optimize accessibility for less-able-bodied visitors.
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