Artis Zoo is the oldest Zoo in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1838, and covers an area of over 14 hectares. The zoo houses around 700 species of animals and includes an aquarium and a botanical garden, as well as a geological museum and a planetarium. A variety of sculptures are scattered around the zoo – some dating from the founding of Artis, others by famous Dutch artists such as Jaap Kaas and Arie Teeuwisse.