AMSTERDAM (AP) — Look up as you enter Amsterdam's new Art Zoo museum, and a 12-foot crocodile stares down at you, mouth open, ready to chomp.
The taxidermic reptile is one of hundreds of preserved creatures on display, alongside artfully arranged piles of bones, illuminated tulips encased in apothecary jars and a cabinet of grotesque fish.
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Visitors sit near a collection of bones from a Mosasaurus (70 million years old) at the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
A Japanese giant spider crab stretches its legs above a doorway at the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
A cheetah slouches in an alcove at the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Dutch taxidermists Jaap Sinke, left, and Ferry van Tongeren pose for a photo at the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
A crocodile stares down at the entrance of the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
While it’s not a Halloween-themed museum, the show should appeal to anybody looking for something a little dark this spooky season.
“It was a little creepy,” admitted Tomáš Vaško, a Slovak living in the Dutch capital, after touring the museum on a dark October day.
Art Zoo is the creation of Dutch artists Jaap Sinke and Ferry van Tongeren, who draw inspiration from “wunderkammers,” or curiosity cabinets collected by wealthy Europeans in the 16th and 17th centuries to showcase objects from the natural world.
“The main thing is that we like storytelling with the animals," van Tongeren told The Associated Press. "We like to add drama. We add an attitude to the animals, where traditional taxidermists just want to mimic nature.”
Behind him, a cheetah slouched in an alcove under the watchful eye of a cassowary.
In natural history museums, animals are posed as they could be seen in the wild. At the Art Zoo, a Japanese giant spider crab stretches its 6-foot legs above a doorway beside the leg bones of a mastodon that nearly reaches the ceiling.
The duo rose to fame in 2015 after shark-pickling artist Damien Hirst purchased their entire exhibition from a London art show.
Unlike at a traditional zoo, the human visitors are confined, not the animals. The display rooms in the 17th-century canal house where the Art Zoo is located are enclosed by brooding, black metal cages.
“We really like the concept of having all the people in a cage and then all the animals free,” van Tongeren says. “In that way, the whole building becomes one artwork.”
None of the animals in the eclectic collection were taken from the wild.
“All our animals come from zoos where they died of natural causes,” said Sinke. Still, he acknowledged that the paperwork can be challenging. The pair primarily obtained specimens from Europe to ensure they know the history of the animals.
Sinke and van Tongeren actually consider themselves an artistic trio, crediting naturalist Charles Darwin as the third contributor to their work. They pitched the concept of the museum as the return of Darwin’s wonder.
In a nod to the man who developed the first scientific theory of evolution, one wall display contains a series of Darwin busts, turned sideways. Sinke and van Tongeren see an amusing irony in honoring Darwin inside a building that once housed the Biblical Museum.
Not everything in the collection is a real animal. Underneath the crocodile suspended from the ceiling is a wall of Jenny Hanivers, ray carcasses modified into grotesque creatures by 16th-century sailors who presented the macabre beasts as real sea monsters to gullible collectors.
Their misshapen faces appear to keep a beady eye on museum guests as they walk from caged room to caged room.
Visitors sit near a collection of bones from a Mosasaurus (70 million years old) at the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
A Japanese giant spider crab stretches its legs above a doorway at the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
A cheetah slouches in an alcove at the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Dutch taxidermists Jaap Sinke, left, and Ferry van Tongeren pose for a photo at the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
A crocodile stares down at the entrance of the Art Zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Centuries by Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder lifted South Africa back into series contention against Australia on a day of batting domination in the deciding Newlands cricket test on Friday.
South Africa began day four only 40 runs ahead and four wickets down. But a compelling fightback led by wicketkeeper Rickelton, 101 off 219 balls, and allrounder Mulder, 115 off 221 balls, earned them a lead of 287.
Mulder's dismissal in the day's last over ended South Africa's second innings at 387, setting Australia the entire fifth day to score 288 to win the three-test series which is tied at 1-1.
Australia has the record at Newlands for the highest successful fourth innings chase: 331 in 2002.
But world champion South Africa has the advantage of an increasingly turning last-day pitch and an attack featuring rested and in-form off-spinner Simon Harmer.
South Africa scored 329 in its first innings and Australia replied with 429, taking a 100-run lead. The host ended day three at 140-4 and scored 247-6 through Friday's three sessions.
Rickelton and Mulder batted together for nearly 54 overs, scoring 154 runs for the sixth wicket. They frustrated Australia into trying eight bowlers during the day.
Rickelton began the day with Matthew Breetzke, who was the only batter to be dismissed in the morning session — caught at fine leg off Pat Cummins, who ended a wicket drought of more than 62 overs since the first test in Durban.
South Africa crawled to 202-5 at lunch but Rickelton and Mulder then batted out the second session, scoring 92 runs while also blunting the second new ball. Rickelton reached 50 off 105 balls and Mulder was unbeaten on 46 at tea. Their 100-run stand came off 193 balls.
Australia kept squeezing, conceding only 13 runs in the 10 overs after tea. But South Africa crossed 300 and Rickelton scored his third test hundred off 219 balls. He hit 12 boundaries overall.
It was the first century by a South Africa batter at No. 6 in the third or fourth innings of a test since 2022.
The partnership was broken at 335-6 by Mulder, who ran out Rickelton. Mulder was watching the ball roll to backward point and sent back non-striker Rickelton too late to beat the throw.
Four wickets fell for 16 runs, including a second run out, of Gerald Coetzee, who was turned around by Mulder too late.
South Africa was nine down and Mulder on 83. He accelerated. His first 50 came off 138 balls, the second 50 off 66. He reached his fourth test hundred off 204 balls in the final minutes of play on day four. In all, Mulder hit 10 fours and four sixes.
Mulder was finally caught in the deep pulling Cummins and was applauded all the way to the boundary.
Australia pacer Mitchell Starc took 3-65 and a match haul of nine wickets.
See AP’s full cricket coverage here
Australia's Nathan Lyon jumps over the wicket as South Africa's Gerald Coetzee is dismissed by Marnus Labuschagne on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
South Africa's Wiaan Mulder acknowledges the crowd after scoring fifty as Australia's Matt Renshaw looks on, on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
South Africa's Wiaan Mulder looks on at the ball as he prepares to play a shot on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
South Africa's Ryan Rickelton plays a shot on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
South Africa's Ryan Rickelton celebrates his hundred on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
Australia's Nathan Lyon reacts after delivering a bowl on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
South Africa's Matthew Breetzke puts on a dive to complete a single on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
Australia's Travis Head celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Matthew Breetzke as captain Pat Cummins looks on, on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
South Africa's Matthew Breetzke plays a shot on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
