Winter closure Botanic Gardens

Date:
Botanische Tuinen winter

The Botanic Gardens go into hybernation as of Sunday 1 December 2024. On Friday 1 March you are most welcome again!

New developments

During the winter closure maintenance works and new developments will be realised in the Gardens. Read more about the new bank protection of the fort moat.

Entrance with campus card and USP partner card

Employees of Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht and USP partners keep free entrance to the Gardens. With a campus card or authorised entrance card you can enter from 10am to 16:30pm via the tourniquets. For these card owners the Gardens will be closed from 21 December 2024 up to and including 5 January 2025.

The Tropical greenhouses, the Entrance building and the toilets are closed. Keep in mind that maintenance work will be done and parts of the Gardens may be closed for that reason.

Venue hire during winter closure

Have your end-of-year party in the Botanic Gardens? That is a good idea!

  • Venues are for rent as of 1 December up to and including 16 December 2024 on working days.
  • No venue hire possible from 21 December 2024 up to and including 28 February 2025.
  • All rooms are available for rent daily from 1 March 2025.

Contact

During winter closure we are available limited. Check our contact information for more details.

UMC Utrecht takes third surgical robot into use

UMC Utrecht has commissioned a third surgical robot. With the arrival of the latest generation, the Da Vinci 5, even more patients can be operated on with minimal stress. This leads to fewer complications and faster recovery. “Apart from the benefits for patients, the Da Vinci 5 also allows us to train even better,” says Jelle Ruurda, gastrointestinal surgeon and professor of robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. “At the touch of a button, colleagues can watch remotely, and even learn from previous operations. This way we share knowledge faster and more widely.” The hospital is thus building on a tradition of 25 years at the forefront of robotic surgery.

The HU ORM program is moving to the Utrecht Science Park.

The Entrepreneurship & Retail Management (ORM) program will relocate from Amersfoort to the Utrecht Science Park as of September 1, 2026. According to program manager Lisette Luijk (Institute for Marketing & Commerce), it is mainly about one thing: more connection.

Danny Sahtoe receives NVBMB prize

Danny Sahtoe has been awarded the prestigious NVBMB prize, a prize that gives recognition to the work of a highly talented young independent researcher in the field of biochemistry or molecular biology. The prize includes funding to organize a one-day symposium on a topic of choice. Danny Sahtoe is group leader at the Hubrecht Institute and Investigator at Oncode Institute.

Inspiring and connecting visit by the President of Estonia to Utrecht Science Park

On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the President of Estonia, Mr. Alar Karis, together with his wife Sirje Karis, ambassador Mr. Paul Teesalu and a delegation from the Estonian Health Ecosystem, visited the Utrecht Science Park. During the visit, much knowledge was exchanged and valuable connections were made.