Koninklijk Zoölogisch Botanisch Genootschap

(Royal Zoological Botancial Society / The Hague Zoo)

On June 15, 1863 a dream came true for Mr Verweij: the Zoological Botanical Society opened the gates of their gardens. The landscape style gardens exists of a main building, greenhouses, and some animals. Not large but a few years later the Society bought more land, the zoo began to grow.

The first elephants came to The Hague very soon after it opened. A print of 1865 shows us a small elephanthouse. It was a timbered house with a small pen for the elephants. In those days the elephants were used for rides, so the small pen was no problem; the whole zoo was their outside enclosure. Later this building was replaced by an oriental style housing, like the rest of the zoo buildings. But it still had a small outside enclosure.

The zoo of The Hague never had many animals. According to an inventory of December 31, 1919 the zoo had: 48 mammals of 16 species, and 385 birds of 142 species. It mainly was a beautiful park where all kind of events took place, such as the traditional Spring Fair. The main building was used for gatherings, exhibitions, etc.

The managment was permanent struggling to keep out of the "red". Fortunately, there were always some friendly people to donate some animals. Mr Rookmaker, Governor of Palembang, donated most of all, even giving some elephants. Most of the time the transport was charged to the acoount of the Rotterdamsche Lloyd, a Dutch shipowner. This firm provided free shipping for the animals from The Dutch East Indies to The Netherlands.

In spite of financial problems, the zoo had a wide variety of species; birds, reptiles, camels, bears, lions, elephants, some primates like chimpanzees and urang-utangs, and many aquaria. In short; everyone could enjoy the zoo. In addition to the animals the zoo had many greenhouses like the famous Victoria Regia Greenhouse.

Romelus, the lion

Slowly the zoo expanded. In 1925 two additional room were added to the Society Building. To prevent the staff from walking between the main building and the house of the director, a telephone was installed, not common in those days.

The annual report of 1925 stated that besides the purchase of the elephant Betsy III, many other animals were added to the collection. Esquire Van Reigersberg Versluys donated a chimpanzee, named Maaike. A new aquarium room with six aquaria was opened. Some birds were bought or donated; a peacock, a cockatoo, an Amazone parrot, a sparrow hawk, and even a gannet. Among the gifts there were also some monkeys and a tortoise.

A pair of wolves were welcomed in August 1928, and brought into the cottage of Little Red Riding Hood. It was typical in those days for many zoos to have such housing for the wolves. The statue of Little Red Riding Hood of Burgers Zoo in Arnhem still exists.

A sea aquarium was opened in February 1930 for the visitors. In the meanwhile a marten, a panther from Java and the two tigers Caesar and Bela were added to the collection.

A new monkey house was build in 1930 and so was a bird house, and the lions were expecting cubs. The zoo was at his peak. The staff was continously searching for more exotic species. A year later a fish handler from the city of Delft donated a seal. Looking forward for a special seal pool, the animal was released in a small pond.

The 70th anniversary was celebrated in a modest way. But everyone was happy with the zoo. The management was still waiting for a permit for the Spring Fair, needed to balance the books. The number of members increased from 1,100 to 4,000 as a result of lowering the subscription fee.

The Second World War was the final blow for the zoo. Although they recovered very quickly from the early days of the war,  even purchasing some camels in 1942, they never thought of the unexpected. The German occupiers decided to build a fortress and the line of defence was drawn straight across the zoo! The zoo had to close their gates forever. On September 5, 1942 the zoo opened the gates for the last time. During the following weeks, the animals were moved to Rotterdam Zoo, Amsterdam Zoo or a park elsewhere in The Hague. The staff was hoping to move the zoo to that park.

After the war everything remained quiet at the zoo; a restart on a new location was not possible. The Society Building was the only building left and was used for parties, and other events until it was demolished in 1968.

Photo: old postcard of The Hague Zoo,  dated 1902, (collection Gerald Postma)

Betsy I

Not much is known about the first elephants, living in the old elephanthouse. The first name appearing in the books is that of Betsy. She lived at the zoo from 1907 until the begin of 1919. (See also Betsy) After her death there were no funds to buy a new elephant. On the 60th anniversary party everyone was requested to make a donation to collect the 5.000 guilders needed. The result was positive: in October the same year (1923) an announcement was made. With the kind help of the military commander of Atjeh, a young elephant was captured. Expected arrival: spring 1924.

Betsy II

In the spring 1924, a young elephant arrived in The Netherlands. Also named Betsy, she was not healthy, and died after a few months.

Betsy III

The zoo was unlucky. A new "Betsy" was captured and sent to the port, but she never made it. The management never told the public that another elephant (named Betsy) also died even before entering the ship:  foodproblems were suspected. A third elephant, again named Betsy, was stronger and fed with a better mix of milk. She finally was shipped to The Netherlands. Betsy III arrived at the age of eight months on April 19, 1925. She lived at the zoo until she was shipped to England in April/May 1937.

Photo: old postcard of The Hague Zoo,  ca 1950, (collection Gerald Postma)

On July 15, 1934 a young elephant named Sambo arrived at the zoo. He was also a gift of Mr Rookmaker. Sambo was very young and had to be fed by his keeper. He got his own stable in the elephanthouse, to get used to Betsy, his neighbour. What happend with Sambo is uncertain, but it is known that he was not present in the zoo in 1937. Did he die - like so many other elephants - or was he moved to another zoo?

Dora

Another gift from Mr Rookmaker: Dora. She arrived at the zoo on April 22, 1937. The shipowner, Rotterdamsche Lloyd, brought her for free to The Netherlands. She traveled with some other animals, all gifts for The Hague Zoo. Upon arrival her weight was 1,200 kilograms, and the keepers had some difficulties to get her into the elephanthouse. Betsy III was still there but shortly after she was moved to England to make room to another elephant from Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Betsy IV and Neeltje

The zoo staff was not original by choosing names for elephants. On May 25, 1937 again a Betsy arrived at the zoo, together with the three years old Neeltje. Both were owned by an animal handler from Rotterdam, Mr Blazer.  They were loaned to the zoo during the summer season. The elephants came together with some other animals from the zoo of Bandoeng (The Dutch East Indies), but Betsy and Neeltje came aboard of the SS Palembang in Port Said (Egypt).

Old Dutch advertisement of The Hague Zoo, 1934, (collection Gerald Postma)

First Neeltje refused to step into the elephanthouse, so both elephants were brought into the outside enclosure where Dora stood. Dora did not like the newcomers at first, but after a while her curiosity was too strong, and she gave them a warm welcome. De two newcomers began to explore their new enclosure.

It is uncertain what happened to Dora and Neeltje but in 1938 Betsy IV was living on her own. Because Neeltje was on loan, she may have been sent elsewhere, possibly to a circus. Shortly after she was replaced by Aida, but this elephant did some "elephant unworthy things", what ever that may be!

Betsy IV stayed at the zoo, and likely the zoo took the ownership, because she was not sent back to Mr Blazer but brought to Amsterdam Zoo in 1942, when the zoo had to close down. In Amsterdam she lived together with Gina and Dicky.

In the twilight of the zoo, Betsy was used as a goodwill ambassador. In August 1942, Betsy herself brought a membership card to the home of the new member!

Photo: old postcard of The Hague Zoo,  dated 1908, (collection Gerald Postma)

Photo: old postcard of The Hague Zoo,  dated 1932, (collection Gerald Postma)

Victoria Regia greenhouse  Foto: collection  R. van Deemter

Victoria Regia greenhouse  Foto: collection  R. van Deemter