Oude Hortus
After years of travelling through Europe, the apothecary Henricus Munting settled in Groningen in the early 17th century and laid out a herb garden. This marked the beginning of the history of what is now the Hortus in Haren, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Netherlands.
Have a look now
Because the friends he had made whilst travelling sent him unusual plants, his collection grew into an impressive one, which he eventually donated to the University of Groningen. There, in 1654, at the age of 71, he became a professor of botany – the first professor of botany in the Republic of the United Netherlands. For centuries, the Hortus remained in the city centre, expanding to include an arboretum, an orangery and greenhouses until further expansion became impossible. In 1966, the Hortus moved to Haren. Yet, surrounded by university buildings, the oldest Ginkgo biloba in the Netherlands still stands in its original spot amongst rare plants and twenty species of stinzen plants. A unique courtyard garden in the heart of the city.