The history of the ARTIS Aquarium
In 1882, the largest and most modern aquarium in Europe opened its doors. Grounded securely on 1,740 wooden piles, it contained more than a million litres of water. The Aquarium was immediately hailed as a wonder of the world, with visitors coming from all over Europe to admire it
A glimpse into the underwater world: How ARTIS Aquarium was created
Eye to eye with the underwater world .
Late in the 19th century, science and technology developments made it possible to display previously invisible marine life in specially designed aquariums. At around the same time, British researcher Philip Henry Gosse published the influential book The Aquarium, which sparked off an aquarium craze throughout Europe. ARTIS subsequently decided to build a public aquarium featuring both freshwater and saltwater tanks; a valuable addition to the zoo.
ARTIS for everyone .
In 1877, the City of Amsterdam donated the land upon which the current Aquarium stands. This donation was made on the condition that ARTIS, which until then had only been accessible to society’s elite, would open its doors to everyone. When the Aquarium opened in 1882, city residents and visitors from further afield were able to enter the zoo for the first time. This was the first step towards greater accessibility.
Unique design and construction .
Amsterdam architect Gerlof Salm and his son designed the Aquarium in an eclectic style. The classical temple-inspired architecture is unique in Amsterdam and reflects the Concertgebouw on the other side of the city. Construction commenced in 1879. A total of 1,740 piles were ultimately required to support the weight of 640,000 litres of seawater and 225,000 litres of fresh water, along with the innovative Lloyd water filtration system, which is the last working one in the world.
If you would like to know more about the restoration, or are interested in supporting the Aquarium, please contact Judith van den Berg.