Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam Zoo)

Diergaarde Blijdorp also known as the Rotterdam Zoo is one of the oldest zoo in the Netherlands counting at 150 years old. The original zoo was destroyed during the war but was rebuilt and opened again to the public in 1940, the designer being the same one who designed the Rotterdam Central station railway.

It contains various animals that are enclosed in the near-replica of their original habitat making it very large. Walking about the zoo is an exercise in itself, but at the same time admiring their vast collection of animals, birds, snakes and fishes. An Asian section houses Javanese monkeys, a bat cave, exotic birds to name a few. It even has a section about the Philippines, though the information was about the Philippines losing a great percentage of it's rainforest fast (translated to me, of course). The latest addition, the Oceanium (the best part for me second to the aviary), opened in 2004, presented a submarine world inhabited by sharks, jellyfish, and other creatures of the deep brought from around the world.

The zoo became more popular after the escape of Bokito. His original enclosure was under construction at the time of my visit but one can see that they have been putting more height to the walls as part of the increased security and widening the moat area. As a result of this escape, besides the Oceanium, Bokito has drawn a lot of crowd to his temporary enclosure, together with the other gorillas.

It is open all year long. Entrance is 16.50 euros for adults but it was well worth it. Parking is 5 euros for those who have cars. It is about 12 minutes of walk from the Rotterdam Central Station.

For those who have a few hours to spare in Rotterdam, especially those with kids, I am recommending the Rotterdam zoo for a place to visit.

For more pics, please check out my travel blog ;)

Being born and raised in Rotterdam I grew up visiting this zoo at least once a year. And still I love visiting it once a year.
The zoo has always something new to me, since it is always changing and improving; and they always have a nice group of young animals, thanks to the EEP.
The zoo intergrates new with old architecture: they keep old enclosures and intergrate them into new. I love that: it shows the history of the zoo.
It makes a nice day, weather it rains or shines: lot's of indoor areas as well. Very child friendly with playgrounds all around, childresn menu's etc.
it's easily accessed bij car: on the highway follow directions to Blijdorp; You park at the large parking at the Oceanium side. By public transport it's also very easy: take the train to Rotterdam Central Station and from there it's a 10 minute walk to the olde entrance, at the other side of the zoo.
And of course it the home of Bokito; an impressive animal!

I live very close to Blijdorp and I am a member. So for me it's very easy and cheap to visit. If you're in Rotterdam for only a day or 2, it's probably to expensive. But if you have some more time and allready visited all the sites in the city, it's nice place for a stroll and to get out of the busy city. They tried to put the animals together in areas in which you can find them in the wild as well. So there is Asia, Afrika, South America, Oceans and they are building an Arctic area with polar bears. The zoo is also a very nice park, with diffeent trees, flowers, ect.

I took some pictures last month to give you an idea, but I guess there website will provide more info. Have fun!

Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp) is certainly one of the biggest attractions in the Netherlands. There is a whole world to explore and discover at Rotterdam ZOO.

History:
Diergaarde Blijdorp (Official Dutch name: Stichting Koninklijke Rotterdamse Diergaarde, Foundation Royal Zoo of Rotterdam) is a zoo in the northwestern part of Rotterdam, one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands. In 2007 it celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Rotterdam zoo was lost in the bombing of Rotterdam in World War II, which destroyed most of the city centre. Some streetnames still remember to the old zoo, such as Diergaardesingel (Zoolane). Blijdorp was rebuilt slightly to the north, where it opened to the public on December 7, 1940, it's current location. The new zoo was designed by dutch architect Sybold van Ravesteyn who also designed the Central railway station in Rotterdam.

In 2001, 'Blijdorp' opened the new western part, called Oceanium with its main attraction an aquarium, making the zoo almost twice as large. In water continent "Oceanium" you make a magical journey over the bottom of the sea and along coastal regions'.

Throughout the zoo it contains various animals that are enclosed in the near-replica of their original habitat.

Blijdorp not only participates in animal programmes like EEP, it also houses a botanical garden and manages the Dutch National Bromelia Collection. In April 2004, the whole zoo was declared a national monument.