This Is the First Zoo in the World to Be a Certified Night Sky Sanctuary-and You Can Visit After Dark, Too

"If you were to fly over Amsterdam at night, you'd see the familiar expanse of glittering city lights. But one feature would stand out: a patch of darkness in the very center of the city, an unexpected oasis of night in an otherwise luminous landscape. That dark space is Artis Park, a zoo and botanical garden in the heart of the city. Artis is both the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and the fifth oldest zoo in the world, but its significance doesn't end there."

"Artis received the dark-sky certification after removing unnecessary lights and replacing or adapting remaining light fixtures. It's also making efforts to educate the public on the value of darkness through exclusive evening openings where a limited number of guests can wander through the park at night. The first round of Dark in Artis offerings take place over eight evenings in December and January."

Artis Park is a central Amsterdam zoo and botanical garden that appears as a patch of darkness amid city lights when viewed from above. In October 2025, DarkSky International designated Artis as an Urban Night Sky Place, the first zoo worldwide and the first site in the heart of a European capital to receive that certification. The zoo removed unnecessary lights and adapted remaining fixtures to reduce light pollution and to protect natural nocturnal rhythms. The changes aim to benefit plants, animals, and humans. Artis also offers exclusive evening openings with limited guests to educate the public about the value of darkness.

Read at Travel + Leisure