The 25 Best Zoos in The Netherlands (Suggested By Locals)

Last updated: July 16th, 2022.

It is challenging for foreigners to decide which zoo in The Netherlands to visit because there are many Dutch zoos. I have lived in the Netherlands my entire life and visited many Dutch zoos with my family. I also interviewed dozens of other Dutchmen about their favorite zoos to select and review the 25 best zoos in The Netherlands.

What Are The 25 Best Zoos In The Netherlands?

You can find an overview of the 25 best Dutch zoos in the table below.

Nr.	Zoo	City
1	Artis	Amsterdam
2	Apenheul	Amersfoort
3	Aqua Zoo Leeuwarden	Leeuwarden
4	Blijdorp	Rotterdam
5	Burgers Zoo	Arnhem
6	Amersfoort Zoo	Amersfoort
7	Dierenrijk	Nuenen
8	Dolfinarium	Harderwijk
9	GaiaZoo	Kerkrade
10	Ouwehands Dierenpark	Rhenen
11	Safaripark Beekse Bergen	Beekse Bergen
12	Avifauna	Alphen a/d Rijn
13	Wildlands Emmen	Emmen
14	Zoopark Overloon	Overloon
15	Berkenhof Tropical Zoo	Kwadendamme
16	BestZOO	Best
17	Zoo de Oliemeulen	Tilburg
18	Doezoo	Leens
19	Eekhoorn Experience	Etten-Leur
20	Plaswijckpark	Rotterdam
21	Reptile House Earth	Breda
22	Seal Rehabilitation Center	Pieterburen
23	Sea Aquarium	Bergen aan Zee
24	Sea Life	Scheveningen
25	The Orchid Farm	Luttelgeest

Map Of The 25 Best Zoos In The Netherlands?

I created a map to help you quickly find the 25 Best Zoos in The Netherlands. If you click on the numbers on the map below, you will find links to the English websites of these Dutch zoos.

Some of the smaller zoos only have Dutch websites. I recommend using the Google Translate function in Chrome to translate these Dutch websites to your preferred language automatically.

Review Of The 25 Best Zoos In The Netherlands

I prepared a brief review of each zoo to help you decide if a particular zoo will be fun for your family. I have also added the price of admissions for each zoo in 2022.

You can order tickets for most Dutch zoos online at Tiqets.com.

1. Artis Amsterdam

Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, 1018 CZ Amsterdam

Artis is a zoo close to Amsterdam’s center with beautiful canals. Artis Amsterdam is one of the oldest and largest zoos in The Netherlands. Artis has more than 900 different animal species, so you will have enough animals to watch. Artis is Amsterdam’s most popular attraction and welcomes more than 1 million visitors/year. That should assure you that taking your family to Artis will be fun.

Ticket prices: Children (3-9 years) = € 20,50 and Adults = € 24,00.

2. Apenheul In Apeldoorn

Address: J.C. Wilslaan 21, 7313 HK Apeldoorn

Apenheul is” the best day out between monkeys” and a zoo where you can walk between the (smaller) monkeys. That is fun, and it is no surprise that Apenheul is a top-rated attraction in The Netherlands. It will be an unforgettable experience for the children (and the parents). Don’t worry about safety because the bigger monkeys cannot walk freely. I revisited Apenheul last year and loved it. Super interesting!

Ticket prices: Children (3-12 years) = € 21,00 and Adults = € 24,00. Order you tickets online here.

3. Aqua Zoo Leeuwarden In Leeuwarden

Address: De Groene Ster 2, 8926 XE Leeuwarden

Acqua Zoo Leeuwarden is a zoo in Leeuwarden that focuses on animals that live in or near water. These days they have a broader focus and a wider variety of animals. They have also extended their playground facilities because they have understood that a combination of watching rare animals with a (large) playground is a beautiful combination for families with younger children.

The fact that the number of visitors has doubled over the last five years is an indication that Aqua Zoo Friesland has become an attractive option for a day out with your family.

Ticket prices: Tickets (above 3 years) = € 17,95.

4. Blijdorp, The Most Popular Zoo in the Netherlands.

Address: Blijdorplaan 8, 3041 JG Rotterdam

Blijdorp in Rotterdam is the most popular zoo in the Netherlands, with more than 1,5 mln visitors/year. We have described Blijdorp in another post as one of the top attractions of Rotterdam. You should explore that post if you want to learn more about Blijdorp and other attractions in Rotterdam that may be fun for your family.

Ticket prices: Children (3-11 years) = € 20,00 and Adults = € 23,00.

5. Burgers’ Zoo, The Zoo Of Arnhem

Address: Antoon van Hooffplein 1, 6816 SH Arnhem

Burgers’ Zoo is located in Arnhem, and Burgers’ Zoo is the second-largest zoo in The Netherland. Last year, I visited Burgers’ Zoo and was impressed by the zoo’s size and design. However, the most impressive and truly unique thing about Burgers’ Zoo is the largest Butterfly Hall in Europe. That is quite an experience.

The park consists of several parts, the Safari part, the Bush part, the Dessert part, and a Sea part. Burgers’ zoo is a beautiful modern zoo.

Ticket prices: Children (4-9 years) = € 19,50 and Adults = € 22,50. You will get a € 1 discount per ticket if you order your tickets online.

6. Amersfoort Zoo in Amersfoort

Address: Barchman Wuytierslaan 224 3819 AC Amersfoort

Amersfoort Zoo distinguishes itself by allowing you to watch the animals from above and below. That is a rather original setup, and the kids will love it. Another innovative concept is the DinoPark, with models of dinosaurs at their original size. The house for animals active during the night is also an original idea. This zoo also has plenty of playgrounds for younger children. Amersfoort Zoo is an excellent innovative zoo.

Ticket prices: Children (3-12 years) = € 20,00 and Adults = € 24,00.

7. Dierenrijk In Nuenen

Address: Baroniehei 1, 5731 RG Mierlo

The zoo in Nuenen is a charming midsize zoo in a green environment with plenty of possibilities for younger children to play in the playgrounds. This zoo has 96 different animal species, including lions, elephants, and rhinoceros. There are many playgrounds for younger children to play in, and they top it off with many birds flying around.

Ticket prices: Tickets (3 years and older) = € 21,00.

8. Dolfinarium In Harderwijk

Address: Zuiderzeeboulevard 22, 3841 WB Harderwijk

Dolfinarium is a household name in the Netherlands and one of the most popular attractions in the country. I highly recommend the shows where dolphins perform all kinds of tricks. Recently, an outdoor water park with lots of slides has been built to show your skills in the water. Please, check in advance if the water park is open because it is an outdoor water park and will not be open all year round.

Ticket prices: Tickets = € 28,50.

9. GaiaZOO In Kerkrade

Address: Gaiaboulevard 1, 6468 PH Kerkrade

Gaiazoo has been selected four times by the public as” the most beautiful zoo in the Netherlands,” and that should tell you enough. This zoo has existed for a relatively short time (15 years), and the facilities are new and very modern. GaiaZOO is an excellent choice if you stay in the southern part of The Netherlands or come from Germany or Belgium. GaiaZOO is one of the most exciting zoos in The Netherlands and worth considering a day out with your family.

Ticket prices: Children (3-9 years) = € 20,50 and Adults = € 24,00.

10. Ouwehands Dierenpark In Rhenen

Address: Grebbeweg 111, 3911 AV Rhenen

Ouwehands Dierenpark is one of the midsize zoos in the Netherlands with a rich history. Ouwehands Dierenpark uses its Chinese giant panda couple to distinguish itself from other zoos and has built an entire Chinese concept around these pandas.

However, they have much more to offer than just the pandas, and a lot of their offering is also indoors, which is not a bad idea given the climate in The Netherlands.

Ticket prices: Children (3-9 years) = € 23,00 and Adults = € 25,00. You will get a € 1 discount per ticket if you order your tickets online.

11. Safaripark Beekse Bergen in Beekse Bergen

Address: Beekse Bergen 1, 5081 NJ Hilvarenbeek

Safaripark Beekse Bergen is one of the most special zoos in the Netherlands because the animals are not living in cages but walking around freely. So don’t worry; it is safe if you abide by the park’s rules. You can even sleep between the animals because the safari park has a resort. We love the cottages between the treetops in particular. We find this park and resort a fascinating concept, and you can find more information about it here.

Ticket prices: Children (3-9 years) = € 22,50 and Adults = € 26,50.

12. ZooParc Overloon In Overloon

Address: Stevensbeekseweg 21, 5825 JB Overloon

Zoopark Overloon is a midsize zoo located in Overloon. ZooParc Overloon is built on the concept of going on an expedition to make the visit to the zoo more adventurous for children. They have many playgrounds to keep the children busy and are reasonably priced. That makes this zoo attractive for a day out with the family.

Ticket prices: Ticket (3 years and older) = € 17,00.

13. Avifauna In Alphen A/D Rijn

Address: Hoorn 65, 2404 HG Alphen aan den Rijn

Avifauna is a bird park located in Alphen a/d Rijn. Avifauna is, as the name says, a zoo focusing on birds. Besides the fact that you can see many birds, this zoo also has many bird shows. The feeding of the birds is also a fun and popular activity.

Ticket prices: Children (3-12 years) = € 17,00 and Adults = € 18,50. You will get a € 1,50 discount per ticket if you order your tickets online.

14. Wildlands In Emmen.

Address: Raadhuisplein 99, 7811 AP Emmen   

Wildlands is a zoo located in Emmen. Wildlands is the largest zoo in the north of the Netherlands. The zoo has recently moved to a new area outside the city center and has become a vast zoo. The zoo is separated into four different parts (of the world) to let you take a tour around the world. They also have great attractions like a safari truck, an indoor boat trip, and even a roller coaster. These are excellent additions to a zoo and make Wildlands an outstanding zoo.

Ticket prices: Children (3-9 years) = € 20,50 and Adults = € 24,00.

15. Berkenhof Tropical Zoo

Address: Langeweegje 10-A, 4434 NE Kwadendamme

Berkenhof Tropical Zoo is an award-winning midsize zoo located in Zeeland. Berkenhof is ideally situated for those visiting the beaches in Zeeland and looking for an alternative to the beach when the weather may not be as lovely. Berkenhof Tropical Zoo is, not surprisingly, focused on tropical animals. They also have a fossil mine, where mammoths and saber-toothed tigers can be seen. Finally, they have a dinosaur exposition, where you can see models of several dinosaurs.

Ticket prices: Children (3-12 years) = € 10,50 and Adults = € 11,50. You can order your online tickets here.

16. BestZOO In Best

Address: Broekdijk 15, 5681 PG Best

BestZOO is a small cozy zoo located in Best. BestZOO prides itself on two rare animal species, the tamanduas and the wallaroos, found nowhere else in The Netherlands. However, BestZOO can better pride itself as a charming small zoo with a petting farm, many playgrounds for young children, and a reasonable ticket price.

Ticket prices: Children (3-11 years) = € 9,75 and Adults = € 11,50. You can order your online tickets here.

17. De Oliemeulen in Tilburg

Address: Reitse Hoevenstraat 30, 5042 EH Tilburg

De Oliemeulen is a small zoo that started 30 years ago as a reptile house, and reptiles are still a zoo’s focus. There are daily shows and demonstrations where the visitors can touch animals like snakes and spiders (if they dare). Small (non-dangerous) animals walk around freely, making De Oliemeulen a friendly, educational, charming, and reasonably priced zoo.

Ticket prices: Children (3-12 years) = € 11,00 and Adults = € 12,00. You can buy your online tickets here.

18. DoeZoo in Leens

Address: Wierde 17, 9965 TA Leens

Ticket prices: Tickets (3 years and older)= € 7,50

19. Eekhoorn Experience in Etten-Leur

Address: Bredaseweg 287, 4872 LA Etten-Leur

The Eekhoorn Express is a small park with 15 different types of squirrels. The nice part is that you can feed them with healthy food that you can purchase for a very reasonable price (€ 0,50 / portion) in the park. The Eekhoorn Express is attractive because the cost of admission is precisely € 0, and parking is also free.

Ticket prices: Tickets = € 0

20. Plaswijckpark In Rotterdam

Address: Ringdijk 20, 3053 KS Rotterdam

We described Plaswijkparck in another post and suggest you read the other post to obtain more information about Plaswijkparck. I like Plaswijckpark because it combines a zoo with a playground/attraction park. That perfect combination has made Plaswijkparck an attractive destination for a family trip.

Ticket prices: Tickets (2 years and older) = € 13,35.

21. Reptile House in Breda

Address: Aardenhoek 26a, 4817 NE Breda

The Reptile House in Breda is a zoo dedicated to reptiles. There are many reptiles (snakes, lizards, crocodiles), amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders), and arthropods (spiders and scorpions). You cannot expect elephants, rhinos, monkeys, or spectacular lions. It is a relatively small zoo compared to other zoos, but no zoo has more reptiles than the Reptile House in Breda.

Ticket prices: Children (3-11 years) = € 7,50 and Adults = € 8,50. You can purchase tickets online here.

22. Seal Rehabilitation Center In Pietersburen

Address: Hoofdstraat 94a, 9968 AG Pieterburen

The Seal Rehabilitation Center in Pietersburen is another household name in The Netherlands. Sick seals found in the Wadden Sea are treated here and returned to the Wadden Sea once cured. Visitors can see the seals and what the veterinarians do to heal the animals. Very educational and undoubtedly worth a visit if you are visiting the Wadden Sea region.

Ticket prices: Children (3-9 years) = € 6,00 and Adults = € 9,00.

23. Sea Aquarium In Bergen Aan Zee

Address: Van der Wijckplein 16, 1865 AP Bergen aan Zee

The Sea Aquarium in Bergen aan Zee has been renovated and expanded recently and is now home to over 300 different fish species. You can walk over a bridge above the piranhas and stand face-to-face with giant sharks and poisonous lionfish. For those looking for a less adventurous experience, you can also watch the seals outside in their newly renovated pool.

Ticket prices: Children (3-12 years) = € 10,25 and Adults = € 14,75. You can purchase your tickets online here.

24. Sea Life In Scheveningen

Address: Strandweg 13, 2586 JK DEN HAAG

Sea Life is an aqua zoo located in Scheveningen in the heart of the beach resort. Sea Life faces the sea and is less than a minute’s walk from the beach. That makes it a lovely opportunity to visit Sea Life to hide from the sun for a few hours or, very possible in The Netherlands, to hide from the rain.

Ticket prices: Children (3-11 years) = € 11,25 and Adults = € 15,25.

25. The Orchid Farm In Luttelgeest

Address: Oosterringweg 34, 8315 PV Luttelgeest

The Orchid Farm in Luttelgeest is entirely indoors and consists of several greenhouses. The greenhouses contain colorful gardens, orchids, butterflies, and fish. The Orchid Farm is a lovely and surprising concept and deserves consideration as a family activity.

Ticket prices: Children ( 4-12 years) = € 8,50 and Adults = € 14,50. You will get a € 0,50 discount per ticket if you order your tickets online.

What Is The Largest Zoo In The Netherlands?

An often-asked question is which zoo in the Netherlands is the largest.

Safaripark Beekse Bergen is the largest zoo in the Netherlands, with ± 120 hectares. Burgers’ Zoo is the second largest zoo in the Netherlands (45 ha), and Diergaarde Blijdorp is in third place with an area of 25 ha.

Safaripark Beekse Bergen is so large because the animals do not live in cages but roam freely. On the other hand, in Burgers’ Zoo and Blijdorp, the animals live in cages, making these zoos a lot smaller.

Blijdorp Zoo is the largest zoo in the Netherlands regarding the number of visitors, with ± 1.5 million visitors per year.