Burgers' Zoo builds world's largest seagrass aquarium in Arnhem

Royal Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, the Netherlands, is constructing a seagrass aquarium with a capacity of more than 50,000 liters, making it the largest of its kind worldwide. The exhibit aims to recreate a fragile marine ecosystem that links mangroves and coral reefs, providing a habitat for juvenile fish and performing natural water filtration.

The project is being monitored scientifically by Wageningen University, the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, with marine biologist Max Janse explaining the challenges of maintaining appropriate light, water flow, quality and nutrient balance for seagrass growth. The zoo hopes the aquarium will contribute to global research on restoring threatened seagrass beds, which are vital for ocean health.

Visitors will be able to observe the developing seagrass field, while researchers track its development to inform future restoration efforts worldwide.