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 Welcome to the Costerustuin website

 Location

This unique botanical garden is situated in the heart of the Netherlands, between the cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht, on the western border of Hilversum. The area is noted for its attractive and unique verdant landscapes. The region of Het Gooi, which includes Hilversum, is home to broad stretches of forest, fields of heather, peat bogs and lakes. Best known among these are the Naardermeer nature preserve and the lakes of Loosdrecht. Picturesque places such as the artists’ commune of Laren, the fishing village of Huizen and the old commuter towns like Bussum are in the direct vicinity.

Hilversum, known as the “City in the Green”, is famous for its many buildings designed by urban architect Willem Marinus Dudok. Information about his architecture, including bicycle and walking tour routes, is available at the tourist bureau (VVV) and on the city of Hilversum’s web site. A visit to the garden is easy to combine with a trip to the nearby Pinetum, the gardens of Gooilust, the Bijenschans in the Corversbos forest and the stately old residences of `s-Graveland, including the Natuurmonumenten visitors’ center.

Information and opening times can be found using the web site links at the bottom of this page.

 An Overview of the Costerustuin

 The Costerustuin, one of Het Gooi’s most accessible botanical gardens, covers some 1,200 square meters. Every day from sunup to sundown, visitors can enjoy this colorful oasis of indigenous plants, shrubbery and trees. The plants are arranged by family; the nameplates speak for themselves, providing the family name and the plant name in Latin and in Dutch. The garden benches provide views of the garden pond and other vistas. Admission is free.

 As early as 1920, biology scholar Jan Costerus recognized the importance of our native flora and founded Hilversum´s first educational garden. In 1930 the garden was established at its current location at Zonnelaan 4-Z. The Costerustuin is a botanical garden in the sense that plants are arranged not by color or flowering season, but by family, on the basis of the Eichler plant taxonomy system. Wild plants from all over Het Gooi and vicinity can be found here.

 The goal of the Costerustuin Botanical Garden Foundation (De Stichting Botanische Tuin dr. Costerus) is the preservation of and stimulation of interest in this historical garden.  The foundation continues to carry out Jan Costerus´s motto that the garden be “for learning and for enjoyment”. The scenic garden invites one to enjoy its elegant layout of flowerbeds and to stop and take special notice of particular plants. Each season brings out the garden´s charm in its own way – the fresh greens of spring, the summer´s sea of flowers, the swaying seedpods of late autumn.

 Contents of the web site

This web site is intended to provide information about our unique garden and to let you share our enthusiasm. The site gives an overview of the garden´s plants, a description of our activities, and even a look at the animal life in the Costerustuin.

  Route Description (Algemeen – Routebeschrijving)

·          Here you will find a map locating the Costerustuin on the surrounding street plan.

·          A schedule shows when our volunteers are in the garden.

Tours (Activiteiten – Rondleidingen)

·          Tours in Dutch are given during the summer about twice a month.

Photo Album (Activiteiten – Fotoalbum)

·          The album contains photographs of our volunteers, in the garden and at specially organized activities.

Make a donation (Word Donateur)

·          Would you like to support our activities? Contributions are welcome. Send an e-mail to our treasurer, Piet Vulto, at p.vulto@hccnet.nl

 Ground Plan (Tuin in Beeld – Plattegrond)

·          The ground plan gives an overview of the garden layout

 Month by Month (Tuin in Beeld – Tuin per Maand)

·          Here you’ll find photographs showing much of our plant collection. The plants are arranged on a monthly basis, according to their first bloom.

·          For more information you can reach us at: info@costerustuin.nl

 Guest Book (Overig – Gastenboek)

·          This guest book is all about everything that creeps, crawls, slithers or otherwise moves through the Costerustuin. It’s about the animals, that is – not an exhuastive list, but a selection of the “other” life in the Costerustuin.

·          http://hilversum.digicity.nl/Toerisme-Musea/VVV_Hilversum-1120392093id.html

·          http://www.hilversumgoedbekeken.nl/home/architectuur

·          http://www.pinetum.nl/

·          http://www.natuurmonumenten.nl/natmm-internet/natuurgebieden/noord-holland.htm

·          http://www.bijenschanscorversbos.nl/

·          Google Earth or GPS co-ordinates 52°13´41.40”N   5° 9´39.04”E

·     Botanische tuin dr. Costerus

Zonnelaan 4-Z

1217 NG  HILVERSUM

THE NETHERLANDS