De 21 Rijksmonumenten

Did you know that Diergaarde Blijdorp also houses 21 valuable and unique national monuments? Many of them have been restored over the years, modernized, and have become part of the scenic design. It remains a challenge to work with all stakeholders (including architects, the Aesthetic Committee, and animal caregivers) to adapt the monuments to the demands of modern times while preserving their original character. This aspect, in particular, makes the zoo's layout quite special.

In 1937, the municipal government of Rotterdam decided that the Zoo had to make way for urban construction in the city center. The following year, construction began on the new Zoo 'Blijdorp,' named after the Blijdorp polder, where the garden is still located. Architect Sybold Van Ravesteyn was commissioned for the design. With this, Blijdorp became one of the first zoos in the world that was entirely designed by one architect: a comprehensive design.