Tucked inside Natura Artis Magistra, Amsterdam’s historic zoo, the Artis Aquarium has been introducing visitors to underwater life since it first opened its doors on December 2, 1882. Designed by Amsterdam architect Gerlof Salm in an eclectic, temple-like style that echoes the city’s famous Concertgebouw, the building was hailed on opening as the largest and most modern aquarium in Europe and a wonder of its era.
The aquarium closed in 2021 after more than 140 years of saltwater exposure had corroded its original concrete tanks, prompting a five-year, nearly €50 million restoration. It reopened to the public in June 2026 with modernized tanks holding roughly 1 million liters of fresh and salt water combined, while preserving the aquarium’s historic Lloyd’s filtration system, the last working example of its kind anywhere in the world.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Part of: Natura Artis Magistra (Artis Zoo)
- Opened: 1882 (reopened June 2026 after restoration)
- Water volume: about 1 million liters (fresh and salt combined)
- Species: about 250 species
- Zoo annual visitors: about 1.27 million (2024)
- Famous for: One of Europe’s oldest aquarium buildings still in use, with the last working Lloyd’s filtration system in the world
A 19th-Century Engineering Marvel
When it opened in 1882, the Artis Aquarium was considered the largest and most advanced aquarium in Europe, resting on 1,740 wooden foundation piles driven into Amsterdam’s soft soil. Its original tanks held roughly 640,000 liters of seawater and 225,000 liters of freshwater, circulated by a pioneering filtration system designed by British aquarist William Alford Lloyd that drew international acclaim as an engineering breakthrough.
A Five-Year, €50 Million Rebirth
The 2021-2026 restoration replaced the aquarium’s leaking concrete tanks while keeping around 90% of the historic building intact, including the catacombs housing the restored Lloyd filtration system, now displayed as part of the visitor experience. New exhibits include a Grand Hall display of reef species and sharks, plus an Amazon gallery nicknamed “Life in the Rhythm of the River,” home to poison dart frogs, a Brazilian rainbow boa, and the critically endangered European eel.
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Cold water for the whole loop around the zoo, with a straw lid that doesn't leak in the bag.
A stick means no greasy hands. Reapply quickly between the penguins and the giraffes.
Artis Aquarium FAQs
Is the Artis Aquarium the oldest aquarium in the world?
No. SEA LIFE Brighton (opened 1872) and Naples’ Stazione Zoologica (opened 1874) are both older. Artis, which opened in 1882, is still one of the oldest aquarium buildings in Europe still in continuous use, aside from its 2021-2026 restoration closure.
How much water does the Artis Aquarium hold?
The renovated aquarium holds roughly 1 million liters of fresh and salt water combined, distributed across its historic tanks and exhibit halls.
Is the Artis Aquarium included with zoo admission?
Yes, the aquarium is part of Natura Artis Magistra and is included with general admission to the Artis zoo in central Amsterdam.
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Photo: Rijksmuseum / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.