Winter closure Botanic Gardens
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.
Grand opening of the world’s largest and most complete evolution garden
The world’s largest and most comprehensive Evolution Garden, as far as we know, is now officially open.
Scientific Director of the Botanical Gardens, Edwin Pos, emphasized the Evolution Garden’s role in increasing understanding of diversity within the plant kingdom and its origins. Margot van der Starre, Vice President of Utrecht University’s Executive Board, performed the official opening ceremony together with Pos.
Knot good: How cells untie DNA to protect the genome
Not all DNA looks like the familiar twisted ladder. Sometimes, parts of our genetic code fold into unusual shapes. One such structure, the G-quadruplex (G4), looks like a knot. These knots can play important roles in turning genes on or off. But if not untangled in time, they can harm our genome. Now, researchers from the Knipscheer Group, in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet, have uncovered a surprising mechanism that keeps these knots in check. Their work, published in Science on June 12th, could lead to new ways to treat diseases like cancer.
Number of animal experiments at Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht declines further in 2024
The number of animal experiments conducted by Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht has declined again over the past year. The numbers dropped from 14,192 in 2023 to 12,584 in 2024. This is evident from the joint 2024 Annual Report on Animal Experiments.
Record number of participants cross the finish line at the sunny Utrecht Science Park during the HiPRO Utrecht Marathon
On Sunday 18 May, Utrecht was all about sports. The HiPRO Utrecht Marathon experienced a special edition with a full lap at the marathon distance and a record number of participants of over 18,500. In the morning, thousands of runners started their run. Traditionally, the start and finish took place at the Utrecht Science Park, which was the vibrant heart of this sports event.