The aquarium at ARTIS Zoo is reopening after five years of renovations
By Rachel Deloughry
The aquarium at ARTIS will be back open this weekend! Saturday, June 13, 2026, sees the official opening of the aquarium in Amsterdam after five whole years - an opening event so popular that tickets sold out in an hour and a half!
A listed building, restored to its former glory
The aquarium was first opened in 1882 and is one of the oldest aquariums in the world. The building is a listed monument, and it has been restored to an impressive degree, bringing aquatic life into the 21st century. Many of the features that make the aquarium building unique were hidden away, but are now back in the public eye once again, such as original sculptures or even whole rooms that were used as offices.
Photo: © ARTIS, Kirsten van Santen
Conservation and sustainability play a massive part in the aquarium's vision
The new aquarium is not just a place to stroll and discover different kinds of fish during a day at the zoo, but an homage to the world’s waters and how they impact humans, flora and fauna. In fact, the first statue you’ll see as you walk into the foyer is accompanied by a quote by marine biologist Sylvia Earle, “No water, no life. No blue, no green.” As Rembrandt Sutorius, Director of ARTIS, puts it: “For five years, we have worked on both the restoration and reinvention of the aquarium. The new aquarium tells what may be one of the most important nature stories of our time: without healthy water, there is no life."
The aquarium is awe-inspiring for visitors from all walks of life, from families with children of any age to scientists with in-depth knowledge of aquatic life. The aquarium's curation strikes a balance between aquatic discovery and art gallery aesthetics. You get a sense of intentional placement of viewing galleries interspersed with interactive elements. Even the musical soundscape was chosen with the intention of creating an immersive experience for the public.
Interactive ways of learning about the waters of the world
Visitors can get involved in the playful and educational interactive part of the exhibition. There are all kinds of ways of stimulating your senses, like cranking a handle to create a vortex or shaking hands with another visitor to show how salt water and seawater meet. You can activate a body sensor that explains the makeup of water in the human body, all while a human-shaped water blob is mimicking your every move. Learn about responsible practices in the fishing industry with the magnetic fishing game! You can even watch and learn as meals are prepared for the sea creatures at a work station that looks like an average deli bar for humans! And you can build your own submarine - perfect for anyone who wants to try their hand at gamefied nautical fun on a screen!
Restored water filtration system - a piece of living heritage on display at the aquarium
On the ground floor, the public can now view the historic water filtration system, which resembles impressively vaulted catacombs. A revolutionary water filtration system was implemented at the aquarium back in 1882. The Lloyd filtration system, named after the British aquarist William Alford Lloyd, made it possible to maintain such large water tanks in the 19th century.
During the recent renovations, the Lloyd filtration system was carefully preserved and placed side-by-side with more modern technology. Nowadays, the aquarium at ARTIS is a piece of living heritage, with the honour of being the only aquarium in the world with a functioning filtration system of this type.
Photo: Restored Lloyd filter system in 2026. © ARTIS, Christiaan de Bruijne
Plan your visit to the new aquarium at ARTIS
For the lucky ones who have tickets to the grand opening event on June 13, did you know that if you wear diving goggles at the entrance, you can get in for free? If you don’t have tickets for the opening day, you are out of luck, as they are all sold out, unfortunately.
For everyone else, you can visit the new aquarium at ARTIS from June 14 by purchasing a regular zoo admission ticket, and it’s open from 9am until 6pm. This is the perfect way to spend a weekend with friends or family during the weekend or the holidays, no matter the weather!
Photo: © ARTIS, Kirsten van Santen
Lifestyle editor at IamExpat for the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Rachel has her finger on the pulse of what's happening in the realm of festivals, exhibitions, concerts and markets. She received her Master of Music from Utrecht Conservatory and before that, earned a Bachelor of Music in Ireland. She is passionate about music, painting and design.Read more