The Snippendaal Garden

The Hortus was founded in 1638 as the Hortus Medicus, a medicinal herb garden. Herbs were of vital importance at that time, because they served as the ingredients of medicines. Doctors and pharmacists conducted research on medicinal plants in the Hortus and the pharmacists took their exams there.

In 1646, Johannes Snippendaal was appointed prefect of the Hortus. In that same year, he catalogued the entire plant collection of the Hortus. He described 796 different plant species, mostly medicinal plants, but also some extraordinary ornamentals. This work became the first catalogue of the Hortus Medicus Amsterdam.

In 2007, the Hortus completed a unique project: a translation of Snippendaal’s catalogue and the realization of a garden containing the plants described in the catalogue. The plants growing in this Snippendaal Garden were also being cultivated in the Hortus Medicus in 1646. Nothing is known about the layout of the Hortus Medicus. Bureau SB4 (Wageningen) made a contemporary design, reminiscent of the straight rectangular beds of 17th century gardens.

More information about Johannes Snippendaal can be found HERE.
More information about the Snippendaal catalogue and the translation can be found HERE.