Seasonal opening Botanic Gardens
Starting March 1, you are welcome again at the Utrecht University Botanic Gardens. The first spring buds on the Stinzen slope are flowering already. What else can you expect this year?
Renovations
During the winter closure, work was done on major maintenance, such as the replacement of the 60-year-old bank protection of the fort canal, and some other renewals.
- The prairie area in the Discovery garden has been prepared for new plantings. Soon 50 to 60 species will be planted: true prairie plants that also occur in the wild and partially new to our collection. In this way, we hope to soon provide a fairly realistic picture of what the American prairies look like.
- A new entrance for pass holders of a campus card, Friends card, Museum card and USP partners (see yellow circle in photo).
- The new Evolution garden is being well underway with more planting, detailing of special plant groups and placement of artistic installations and informational signs.
Programming
Again this year we have a great program with various activities, including:
- Spring weekend: Facts & Myths about gardening on March 22 and 23 (mainly in Dutch);
- The official opening of the Evolution garden in June with several special activities;
- Scavenger hunts for children;
- Garden lab: the Green time machine;
- Summer evenings;
- Join the expert in several variations.
Check out the full annual program with something for everyone.
Furthermore, you can once again enjoy colorful butterflies in the Butterfly greenhouse and one of the largest rock gardens in Europe.
Another nice thing to know is that the shop assortment has been renewed and Tuincafé Botanica provides delicious food and drinks in the garden café and on the terrace.
Utrecht Science Park Summer Café: Farewell to Managing Director Jan Henk van der Velden
On Monday, 6 July, the Utrecht Science Park Summer Café took place at Grand Café Living on Utrecht Science Park. This edition was dedicated to the farewell of Jan Henk van der Velden, Managing Director of the Utrecht Science Park Foundation, after nine years in which he played a key role in the development and positioning of the ecosystem.
UMC Utrecht is to get a new main entrance and a green campus park
The north side of UMC Utrecht is set to undergo a major redevelopment in the coming years. Utrecht City Council and the teaching hospital have presented plans for a new main entrance, a central car park and a green reception area designed to improve connections between the hospitals at Utrecht Science Park. The plans have now been submitted to the city council.
Petra Baarendse appointed new Managing Director of Stichting Utrecht Science Park as of 1 September
Utrecht, 2 July 2026 – As of 1 September 2026, Petra Baarendse will take office as the new Managing Director of Stichting Utrecht Science Park. She succeeds Jan Henk van der Velden, who has stepped down and will take on a new role as Managing Director of Stichting Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug.
Opening Utrecht Science Week with keynote by Juliette Legler on the hidden influence of environmental chemicals
On Friday, September 25, the annual science festival ‘Utrecht Science Week’ kicks off once again at Utrecht Science Park. We are pleased to announce that this year, Prof. Dr. Ir. Juliette Legler will deliver the Utrecht Science Lecture. Juliette Legler is Professor of Toxicology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and leads the ‘One Health Toxicology’ group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS).