Two New Year’s outings in one evening! On Thursday, January 15th, we celebrated the New Year at the Wereldmuseum and ARTIS Royal Zoo. With no fewer than 45 participants, we strolled through ARTIS Royal Zoo at night… Extra special: ARTIS Royal Zoo opened its doors especially for our neighbourhood network that evening.
We began in the planetarium, where we could see with our own eyes just how much of the Netherlands is illuminated by artificial light. Seen from space, this is both impressive and confronting. During the introduction, we reflected on what light means to us – safety and visibility – but also on its impact on nature and wildlife. Excessive lighting can disrupt plants and trees, make prey too visible, and attract insects, affecting the entire ecosystem.
After this introduction, we enjoyed a wonderful guided walk through ARTIS, official ambassador of the dark. Divided into four groups, we received fascinating explanations along the way. We learned how animals perceive their surroundings, which senses they use, and how everything in nature is interconnected. A beautiful way to start the year and a valuable moment to get to know each other better as a neighbourhood network.