This Is the First Zoo in the World to Be a Certified Night Sky Sanctuary—and You Can Visit After Dark, Too

If you were to fly over Amsterdam at night, you’d see the familiar expanse of glittering city lights. But one feature would stand out: a patch of darkness in the very center of the city, an unexpected oasis of night in an otherwise luminous landscape.

That dark space is Artis Park, a zoo and botanical garden in the heart of the city. Artis is both the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and the fifth oldest zoo in the world, but its significance doesn’t end there. In October 2025, it became the first zoo in the world to be designated as an Urban Night Sky Place by DarkSky International—and the first site in the heart of a European capital to receive the certification.

“It’s fantastic that Artis has been certified as an Urban Night Sky Place. The fact that, in a zoo in the light-filled city of Amsterdam, the night sky is being protected, and its importance explained to the general public, is tremendously valuable,” Dan Oakley, a representative of DarkSky International, said in a release obtained by Travel + Leisure.

The certification of Artis is not a key step in the worldwide effort to reduce light pollution and keep night skies dark, but also a benefit to the animals that live in and around the zoo—and us humans, too.

“Darkness plays a crucial role for plants, animals, and humans,” Savitri Groag, the sustainability coordinator at Artis, said in a statement. “By switching off lights, we return the natural rhythm to nature. This certification proves that even in the heart of a major city, darkness can be protected.” 

Artis received the dark-sky certification after removing unnecessary lights and replacing or adapting remaining light fixtures. It’s also making efforts to educate the public on the value of darkness through exclusive evening openings where a limited number of guests can wander through the park at night. The first round of Dark in Artis offerings take place over eight evenings in December and January.

The after-dark journey begins with a visit to the Artis Planetarium to see the impact of light pollution and get tips on winter stargazing in Amsterdam. From there, evening visitors can explore Artis at night, using night vision goggles to spot the zoo’s nocturnal residents. Families can participate in a series of educational activities and all visitors will be guided by an audio tour as they stroll at their own pace through the park. 

The Dark in Artis evenings take place five evenings in December between Dec. 13 and Dec. 28, and three evenings in early January. The experience requires regular zoo admission: 18 Euro (about $21) for adults and 12.50 Euro ($14.50) for students. Tickets can be reserved at dagtickets.artis.nl.