Amsterdam museum puts visitors in cages while displaying preserved animals
Art Zoo features taxidermic creatures arranged for dramatic effect, inspired by historical curiosity cabinets.
At a glance
- Art Zoo features hundreds of preserved animals and natural objects in artistic arrangements
- The museum's design was inspired by historical European curiosity cabinets from the 16th-17th centuries
- Displays prioritise dramatic storytelling over realistic wildlife presentation
- The museum opened in Amsterdam in October 2026
Amsterdam's Art Zoo museum has opened with a collection of hundreds of preserved animals and natural objects displayed in unconventional ways. The museum features taxidermic specimens including a 12-foot crocodile at the entrance, alongside arranged bones, illuminated tulips in jars and preserved fish. The exhibits differ from traditional natural history museums by emphasising artistic storytelling and dramatic presentation rather than realistic wildlife poses.
The museum was created by Dutch artists Jaap Sinke and Ferry van Tongeren, who drew inspiration from wunderkammers—curiosity cabinets collected by wealthy Europeans in the 16th and 17th centuries. The artists said they aim to add attitude and drama to animal displays, contrasting with conventional taxidermy approaches.
Why it matters
The museum represents a contemporary approach to natural history display, blending art and science in a way that differs from traditional museum practices.
Original reporting
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