Fort Hoofddijk
About 20 minutes by bike from the city centre is Fort Hoofddijk. Once a strategic point on the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, today it is part of Utrecht University's Botanical Gardens. The former engineering shed houses the entrance, garden café and shop. On and around the barracks and depots is the largest rock garden in the Netherlands. There are regular events and exhibitions on the grounds.
A piece of history
The Werk aan de Hoofddijk dates from 1879 and was part of the advanced second circle of forts around Utrecht. The fort was intended to close off access via the Hoofddijk and support the forts Voordorp and Rijnauwen with fire. The small fortification consisted of a ground-covered shellproof barracks and three gun emplacements within the fort's moat. Outside the fort moat are a number of group shelters and the engineer depot.
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About 20 minutes by bike from the city centre is Fort Hoofddijk. Once a strategic point on the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, today it is part of Utrecht University's Botanical Gardens. The former engineering shed houses the entrance, garden café and shop. On and around the barracks and depots is the largest rock garden in the Netherlands. There are regular events and exhibitions on the grounds.
A piece of history
The Werk aan de Hoofddijk dates from 1879 and was part of the advanced second circle of forts around Utrecht. The fort was intended to close off access via the Hoofddijk and support the forts Voordorp and Rijnauwen with fire. The small fortification consisted of a ground-covered shellproof barracks and three gun emplacements within the fort's moat. Outside the fort moat are a number of group shelters and the engineer depot.
In 1963, Fort Hoofddijk was bought by Utrecht University, and the construction of the university gardens began. The Rock Garden was realised first, followed by the System Garden and the Greenhouse Complex in the 1980s. The last component, the Theme Garden, was opened in 1995.
Accessibility and price
The Botanical Gardens are easily accessible from the city by public transport (line 28 and 12, line 12 does not run on weekends).
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- Adults (18+ years): € 10.00
- Young people (4 - 18 years): € 4.50
- Student pass elsewhere (not UU) / CJP: € 4.50
- U-Pas: € 4,50 |payment with the U-Pas is not possible