Artis

What Artis does

Artis is a stichting (Dutch foundation/nonprofit) operating one of the world's five oldest zoos, founded in 1838 in central Amsterdam. The organization runs three core attractions from its Plantage Kerklaan campus: ARTIS-Park (a historic zoo with botanical garden, Planetarium, and the recently restored 1882 Aquarium), ARTIS-Micropia (the world's first microbe museum, opened 2014), and ARTIS-Groote Museum (an interactive natural history museum reopened 2022). The 26-hectare site contains 26 national monuments and 800+ trees. Artis coordinates 5 European Endangered Species Programmes and participates in 86 species conservation programs under EAZA membership.

The organization serves more than 1.3 million visitors annually, segmented across families, school groups, tourists, and corporate clients. Its technology stack comprises an integrated website (artis.nl), a dedicated e-commerce ticketing platform (dagtickets.artis.nl), a mobile application, and a recently launched unified content management system built with DEPT. Digital investment has produced measurable outcomes: a 50-60% increase in active website users, 40% increase in event registrations, and 300% increase in donations since launch.

Artis operates a hybrid revenue model combining one-time ticket sales (zoo, Micropia, Groote Museum with combination options and online discounts), recurring annual memberships with unlimited access, corporate partnerships and sponsorships (notably Rabobank, DEPT, Uber/Jeugdeducatiefonds), event hosting and venue rental (including Zoomeravonden summer evenings), donations and legacy giving (Vrienden van ARTIS), on-site horeca and retail, and parking (€14.50/day members, €17.00/day non-members). Pricing is unit-based with freemium elements for refugees and annual subscriptions for members. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through owned digital channels supplemented by partnership marketing (Natwerk, Culture Ferry) and earned media.

Name

Artis

Legal name

ARTIS

Website

https://artis.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1838

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Artis is a 1838-founded Amsterdam nonprofit operating a historic zoo, botanical garden, planetarium, and three museums including the world's first microbe museum, serving 1.3 million+ annual visitors through ticketing, memberships, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoo and Museum Operations

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Museums (712110), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC), Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Zoo and museum operations
• Nature conservation education
• Botanical garden attractions
• Wildlife heritage sites
• Cultural educational experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from admission tickets to ARTIS-Park (zoo), ARTIS-Micropia (microbe museum), and ARTIS-Groote Museum (natural history museum). Tickets are sold online at discounted rates and at the physical ticket office at a higher price. Combination tickets are available for visiting multiple locations.
2. Membership/Lidmaatschap: Annual membership subscriptions offering free unlimited access, discounts at horeca and shops, parking benefits, and free companion passes for visitors needing assistance.
3. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsoring: Business partnerships including adoptions, sponsorships, and corporate events. Companies can partner with ARTIS for education and nature conservation impact.
4. Donations & Fundraising: Individual donations including one-time gifts and periodic contributions. Legacies and bequests (nalaten). Friends of ARTIS (Vrienden van ARTIS) program with annual gatherings.
5. Events & Venue Rental: Private and corporate event hosting at the park venues, including the Zoomeravonden summer evening events with live music, workshops, and tours.
6. Horeca & Retail: Restaurants, cafes, and shops within the park. Members receive discounts.
7. Parking: On-site car park with daily rates: members €14.50, non-members €17.00. Hourly rate €6.73 without daily ticket.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Artis operates a historic zoo, botanical garden, and museum complex in central Amsterdam. It runs three core visitor attractions — ARTIS-Park (zoo with aquarium and planetarium), ARTIS-Micropia (the world's first microbe museum), and ARTIS-Groote Museum (interactive natural history museum) — alongside memberships, school programs, corporate events, on-site horeca and retail, and parking. The organization coordinates European Endangered Species Programmes and conducts conservation research as a foundation dedicated to connecting people with nature.

Product overview

ARTIS is a historic Amsterdam nature complex comprising three core attractions: ARTIS-Park (zoo with botanical garden, planetarium, and aquarium), ARTIS-Micropia (microbe museum), and ARTIS-Groote Museum (natural history museum). Additional offerings include membership programs, special evening events (Zoomeravonden), school programs, corporate events, and a digital platform. The organization operates as a foundation focused on nature conservation and education, hosting over 1.3 million visitors annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ARTIS-Academie: Educational programmes including courses and lectures
• Zoomeravonden
• Duik in ARTIS
• Aardbewoners Festival

Products and services

• ARTIS-Park Historic Amsterdam zoo and botanical garden featuring animals and plants from around the world, including a Planetarium, Aquarium, and 26 national monuments, open daily to the general public, families, school groups, and tourists.
• ARTIS-Micropia The world's first microbe museum, allowing visitors to discover how invisible microorganisms influence human life. Targeted at families, school groups, and the general public interested in biology and science.
• ARTIS-Groote Museum Interactive natural history museum exploring the connection between humans and nature through exhibitions, artifacts, and installations, including the 'Fantasie-aquarium: Wij, Waterdieren' exhibition. Serves families, school groups, and the general public.
• ARTIS-Aquarium Historic aquarium building from 1882 featuring colorful underwater life, reopened in 2026 with sustainable upgrades including heat-cold storage using canal water and 118 solar panels. Open to the general public.
• ARTIS-Planetarium Planetarium offering space exploration experiences and shows, operated as part of ARTIS-Park.
• ARTIS-Membership (Lidmaatschap) Annual membership subscription offering free unlimited access to ARTIS-Park, Micropia, and Groote Museum, plus discounts at on-site horeca and shops, reduced parking (€14.50/day), and free companion passes for visitors needing assistance.
• Zoomeravonden Summer Events Summer evening events featuring live music, workshops, and special activities in the park after regular closing hours. Open to the general public and visitors.
• Corporate Events & Venue Rental Private and corporate event hosting at various park venues for businesses seeking unique venues for team building, receptions, and corporate gatherings.
• ARTIS-Academie Educational Programs Educational courses, lectures, school programs, and guided tours (638 annually) covering nature, biodiversity, and conservation for schools, teachers, and lifelong learners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ tree urban botanical garden in Amsterdam city center
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• WWF-NL (Wereld Natuur Fonds Nederland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Multi-year partnership to actively involve children in nature and nature restoration. Joint initiative to engage new generations in conservation efforts.
• Ipsos I&OcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2025Multi-year strategic partnership for impact research. Ipsos I&O will provide data-driven insights to help ARTIS measure and achieve its mission of inspiring people to live in connection with nature. Research will cover visitor perspectives and expectations.
• DEPTcoreTechnology or Integration · 30 June 2025Strategic digital partnership to strengthen online nature experience. DEPT provides technological expertise and creative capabilities to support ARTIS's mission. Projects include new digital platform for Aquarium reopening 2026 combining education, experience, visitor information, and fundraising. ARTIS also joins DEPT Cares Day for positive impact. Preceded by successful collaboration launching new content platform and app.
• Rabobank AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2025Multi-year impact partnership to make nature experiences accessible to as many Amsterdammers as possible and inspire action for a habitable planet.
• NatwerkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2024Marketing partnership for the Aardbewoners Festival campaign, the first collaboration between ARTIS and Natwerk. Natwerk developed an activating campaign with out-of-home advertising targeting all earth inhabitants from microbes to humans. Three campaigns planned for 2024.
• Wageningen Universiteit (WUR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNA research collaboration with the Animal Breeding & Genomics group at WUR for genetic studies of small Asian mouse deer, California horn shark, and shorttail nurse shark. Research contributes to species conservation and potential reintroduction to wild.
• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNA research collaboration with the Ecology & Evolution group at VU for genetic studies of zoo animal species to understand ancestry and health for long-term conservation.
• Singapore ZoomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture home for ARTIS's California sea lions. Singapore Zoo is one of the world's most modern zoos and member of EAZA, pursuing highest animal welfare standards. Currently building a new, modern spacious enclosure for the sea lions.
• Burgers' Zoo (Arnhem)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in European conservation program (EEP) for shorttail nurse shark. ARTIS coordinated EEP. Nurse sharks stayed at Burgers' Zoo during Aquarium renovation, where they successfully laid eggs.
• Barbara Eveline Keuning StichtingminorOthersResearch funding foundation supporting DNA research on shorttail nurse shark at ARTIS.
• Rijksakademie (Royal Academy of Art, Amsterdam)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency program partnership (ARTISt-in-Residence). Third edition in 2024, enabling artists to create works inspired by ARTIS collections and animals.
• Universiteit UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership since 2023 to measure nature education impact and maximize positive effects on visitors' conservation knowledge and behavior.
• Culture FerryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHop-on hop-off boat service (April-October) stopping at Entrepotdok and Plantage Muidergracht for ARTIS visitors.
• Thirteen Dutch Zoos (including ARTIS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative to restore rainforest in Madagascar. Protecting 250 hectares of nature and planting 1 million trees to preserve unique plant and animal species found only on this island.
• Uber, Jeugdeducatiefonds, OostenrijkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enabling 6,000 children from schools with many students in poverty to receive educational nature excursions to ARTIS.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Copenhagen Zoo: Major European zoo with strong scientific research arm and modern facilities. Comparable on EAZA membership, conservation programs, and urban-attraction positioning.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo: US flagship zoo with strong conservation research mandate and free admission model. Comparable on scientific authority, species survival programs, and educational scale, though operating model is government-funded.
• Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Vienna Zoo): World's oldest zoo (1742) with UNESCO heritage setting and major conservation role. Comparable on heritage positioning, European capital tourism, and multi-venue expansion model.
• London Zoo (Zoological Society of London): Historic European capital zoo with deep conservation and scientific remit through ZSL. Comparable on heritage, EEP coordination scale, conservation research, and urban zoo challenges; larger and broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Antwerp Zoo (KMDA): One of Europe's oldest zoos (1843), directly comparable to ARTIS on heritage positioning, multi-attraction model, and European capital city location. Shares similar museum/zoo hybrid structure.
• Pairi Daiza: Large Belgian zoo and aquarium complex with immersive themed worlds and conservation focus. Comparable on multi-attraction visitor model, aquarium offering, and pan-European tourism draw.
• Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam Zoo): Major Dutch zoo in Rotterdam operating a comparable combination of animal park, aquarium (Oceanium), and conservation programs. Most direct Dutch competitor in scale, visitor model, and EEP participation.
• Burgers' Zoo (Arnhem): Large Dutch zoo and existing ARTIS partner (collaborated on nurse shark EEP). Operates themed animal habitats and conservation programs at comparable scale to ARTIS, with overlapping EAZA membership and school programs.

Emerging players

• Naturalis Biodiversity Center: Dutch natural history museum and research institution in Leiden. Comparable to ARTIS-Groote Museum on natural history collections, scientific research, and Dutch educational programming.

Regional players

• Singapore Zoo (Mandai Wildlife Group): Partner zoo receiving ARTIS's California sea lions. Comparable on EAZA-equivalent standards, modern enclosure design, and high welfare positioning, but serves Asia-Pacific geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/artis.amsterdam
• Facebookfacebook.com/Artis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artis-zoo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Artis