AAfter more than seven months of renovation work, Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem has reopened the world’s largest indoor rock desert to visitors in a completely renewed form. First opened in 1994 and inspired by the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of North America, the iconic ecosystem now features a new entrance, an expanded visitor route covering a total of 7,500 square metres, redesigned habitats, 145 species of cacti and more than 30 animal species.
The renovation project began in November 2025 with the aim of making the area more accessible and immersive while remaining faithful to the philosophy that has made the Dutch zoo internationally renowned: recreating complete ecosystems where plants, animals and landscapes coexist as naturally as possible.
A new route through canyons, cacti and reptiles
The most significant change concerns the visitor route. Access to the Desert is now through a new entrance located next to the elephant habitat, making it much more visible than the former underground passage connecting the Bush and Desert exhibits. The exit has also been redesigned to create a more intuitive visitor experience.
The former Desert Restaurant has been demolished to make room for new animal habitats and to expand the rocky landscape. One of the highlights is a large open-top habitat, designed to create the impression that the animals move freely among the rocks without visible barriers. The renovated area also introduces new species of reptiles and North American tortoises, including the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), one of the flagship species of the reopening.
The world’s largest indoor desert
Burgers’ Desert is one of the zoo’s seven immersive ecosystems and remains the largest indoor rock desert in the world. The exhibit is home to towering saguaros, agaves, yuccas, prickly pears and many other plant species native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
An ecosystem inspired by a journey through the American desert
Burgers’ Desert is much more than a themed greenhouse; it is the result of extensive field research. Before its opening in 1994, the Burgers’ Zoo team travelled to the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts to study their geology, vegetation and climatic conditions. Those observations made it possible to recreate an astonishingly authentic desert landscape in Arnhem.
The impressive rock formations were sculpted by specialists to reproduce canyons, dry riverbeds and rocky outcrops typical of the North American deserts, while the structure is covered by large transparent cushions that allow natural sunlight to enter—an essential condition for the growth of desert vegetation. More than thirty years after its inauguration, Burgers’ Desert continues to be regarded as one of Europe’s most iconic and innovative zoological ecosystems.
A renovation designed for the future
The refurbishment has done much more than redesign the visitor route. It has modernised an ecosystem that first opened over three decades ago, adapting it to the evolving needs of both animals and visitors. The work included upgrades to infrastructure, pathways, habitats and visitor facilities, ensuring that the Desert remains one of Europe’s most spectacular zoological exhibits.
With its reopening, Burgers’ Zoo has revitalised one of its flagship attractions, reaffirming its commitment to creating immersive ecosystems that allow visitors to experience some of the world’s most remarkable natural habitats without leaving the Netherlands.
