Utrecht University Botanic Gardens

Spread across a large site on the edge of Utrecht, these botanical gardens belong to the university and combine research collections with landscaped grounds open to the public. Visitors can wander rock gardens, ornamental borders and a fortress moat repurposed for aquatic plants, as well as glasshouses sheltering tropical and desert species. The gardens sit within a nineteenth-century fort of the Dutch defence lines, adding a layer of military history. Seasonal displays and a butterfly greenhouse make it a restful outing beyond the city centre.