Who are you, and what gives you energy in your work?
I’m Rembrandt Sutorius, director of ARTIS. I both live and work at ARTIS, so it has truly become a way of life. ARTIS has an important mission: we want people to experience that we are part of nature and therefore share a responsibility for it.
What motivates me every day is being able to work towards that mission in such an extraordinary place in the heart of Amsterdam. And we do this alongside deeply committed, passionate colleagues who put their heart and soul into ARTIS.
What might local residents not yet know about ARTIS, but should?
I think many people have no idea just how much happens at ARTIS. We organise around 7,000 activities and educational programmes every year! From guided tours of the park and talks by animal keepers to lectures on nature conservation and activities at ARTIS-Groote Museum and Micropia.
We also contribute to scientific research and the conservation of endangered species, both in the Netherlands and around the world.
We share stories visitors might not expect, too, such as those about sexual diversity in nature. What’s wonderful is that people often leave these tours seeing nature in a completely different light. There is so much more to discover here than you might think at first glance.
What is your hidden gem in De Plantage?
The Hortus. A beautiful, secluded corner of Amsterdam. Of course, entering ARTIS also feels like stepping into an oasis, but we often have lots of visitors. The Hortus is a little more intimate and has a special sense of tranquillity. It’s a lovely place that I don’t visit nearly enough.
Which inspiring Amsterdammer would you like to meet there?
Marleen Stikker. I admire the way she questions things we take for granted. Developments in culture, nature, technology and democracy are moving incredibly quickly in our society. She consistently asks the right questions and gets a conversation going.
I’m particularly curious about how she currently sees our relationship with nature and technology, and how we can encourage people to look at it differently. What we try to achieve with nature at ARTIS, she does in her own way with technology. That makes her a fascinating person to talk to.
Our previous interviewee, Paul Hermanides, has a question for you: Society’s views on animals in captivity have changed. How will ARTIS respond to critical voices in the coming years, and how would you like the park to develop?
The way we look at animals is changing, and that’s a good thing. Critical questions about keeping animals are important and keep us on our toes. ARTIS has been around for almost 190 years, and our understanding of animals and nature has changed enormously during that time. This is reflected in how we design our animal habitats, which animals we keep and the choices we make regarding animal welfare. We continually ask ourselves which animals belong here, which do not, and under what conditions. Animal welfare must always be an absolute prerequisite.
I believe zoos have never been more relevant than they are today. We are in the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis. Addressing this requires a change in behaviour across society, and achieving that means involving everyone. There are very few places where such a wide variety of people come together as they do at ARTIS. People come to see the lion, but they also learn about biodiversity and the importance of nature conservation.
Education at ARTIS spans everything from the tiniest microbes to the most distant planets in our universe, and I’m very proud of this holistic approach. We want to inspire wonder by telling stories, but above all by letting people feel and experience nature. We want to show that things can be done differently. For example, we are working hard to become a climate-positive organisation, and we hope this encourages people to do their bit too.
Who would you like to pass the baton to?
I’d like to pass the baton to Kriterion. It’s a special place in De Plantage, not only because of the films and documentaries it screens, but also because the cinema is run entirely by students. Through film, Kriterion gives people the opportunity to discover new perspectives and see the world differently. I’m curious about how they see their role in a society that continues to change.
And what question would you like to ask Kriterion?
At a time when technology and digitalisation are increasingly influencing our lives, and personal contact seems to be under pressure, what role does Kriterion play as a place where people come together and discover new perspectives through film? Has that role changed over the past ten years?