At the edge of the bustling center of Amsterdam, the Hortus Botanicus provides an oasis of calm behind its 300 year-old gates in the Plantage district. Being the oldest botanical garden in the world, the Hortus Botanicus is home to over 4000 species of plants that are nurtured in its gardens and greenhouses. It is a must-visit for all nature-lovers or all those who would simply like to spend some quite time in the lap of nature. Founded in 1638, the Hortus Botanicus was brought to life by the Amsterdam City Council as a medicinal herb garden. The Hortus Botanicus is now a world-famous sanctuary to about 2% of all plant species growing on Earth.