Palm House

The Palm House is a protected monument and a prominent part of the Hortus heritage. Its glass dome and industrial character of steel, stone, and glass make it a popular photo backdrop. The greenhouse was designed in 1911 by architect Johan Melchior van der Mey (1878–1949) on behalf of Professor Hugo de Vries.

In winter, the Palm House shelters a collection of palms, cycads, and potted plants. Most of the potted plants are moved outdoors in summer, but some, such as the famous 350-year-old Encephalartos altensteinii, remain inside year-round. The same applies to plants rooted in the ground. The cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum burmannii) and two fig trees (Ficus macrophylla and Ficus lyrata) are said to have been planted personally by Hugo de Vries. The Philodendron bipinnatifidum, with its long aerial roots, is a real eye-catcher in the Palem House.