In 1882, the largest and most modern aquarium in Europe opened its doors. Built on 1,740 wooden foundation piles, it held more than one million litres of water. The Aquarium was immediately hailed as a wonder of the world, attracting visitors from all over Europe. After almost 140 years of salt water, the building was badly damaged. Only a large-scale restoration could preserve this monument for the future. In 2021, the Aquarium closed its doors for a restoration project.
| Project Managers | Harrie Knoll Linda van Leeuwen |
| Architect | Julian Wolse – OTH |
| Exhibition Design | Michel de Vaan – Kossmanndejong Marjolein Drenth – Artis Harrie Knoll – Artis |
| Lighting | Simon Corder |
| Artis Director | Rembrandt Sutorius |
“I was impressed by how beautiful the aquarium has become; atmospheric lighting and artwork that make the monumental building extra beautiful.” – bas k, Tripadvisor, June 2026
“This aquarium manages to be beautiful, fascinating, educational and interactive all at the same time. It was easily one of my favourite experiences in Amsterdam and somewhere I would genuinely visit again.” – Yaa, Tripadvisor, September 2026
photos: Artis, Kirsten van Santen, Christiaan de Bruijne
