Parks & Gardens
Greater Amsterdam's parks offer a calming retreat from the city bustle, and often a perfect picnic spot, some space to run and offerig endless hours of people-watching. Realistically, you're not going to see them all in one park so use this humble guide of Amsterdam's best parks to find one or more that suits your idea of fun in the fresh air.
Especially in sunny or warm weather, these green spaces turn into outdoor living and dining rooms for us locals and visitors alike, while performers, musicians and kids add to the enjoyment value. And even in cooler temperatures, a stroll through any of Amsterdam's parks is sure to refresh our heads as well as those of the weariest of travelers.
In addition to the Big list of Official Parks, there are little green oasis all around the city. One fine example is in the middle of Frederiksplein.
View Frederiksplein in a larger map
On the official list there are about 30 parks in Amsterdam, ranging from Wertheimpark which covers one hectare, to the fabulous Vondelpark which covers 48 hectares. In the number of parks makes Amsterdam a peaceful oasis even on a busiest day - except for Queensday, of course.
Amstelpark
Situated in the suburb of Buitenveldert, southwest of Amsterdam, the park offers good facilities for children, including playground, mini golf, mini football and pony rides. Among its attractions are rose garden, rhododendron walk, and model garden with nursery.
Vondelpark
The largest city park in Amsterdam, and the most famous park in the Netherlands.
Museumplein - Amsterdam's most versatile Park
Dominated by an expanse of grass, sports playgrounds, and wadding pool (converted to ice skating in winter) bordered by the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum,
Oosterpark
This spacious park from the end of 19th century in East Amsterdam, just located behind the Tropical Museum, exhibits several big, monumental sculptures. While Oosterpark may be not worthy a special detour, if you are in the area, this is certainly the place for a longer moment of relaxation. The park is near to the street, which is also called Oosterpark.
Westerpark
Extensive park near the city center is a playground for creative artists, even has a farm. A former gas factory, situated in the middle of the park, has been converted into pleasant cafes a creative offices.
The park is alongside: Haarlemmerweg
Amsterdamse Bos
This woodland park is the largest recreational area in Amsterdam. Lying about 4 meters below sea level and laid out in 1930s in a project to reduce unemployment. Today, the marshy areas around Nieuwe Meer are nature reserves. A stretch of water called the Bosbaan flows through the park, and is the venue for rowing competitions in the season. At the west end of water is the Bosmuseum which exhibits on natural and social history of the park, there are also temporary exhibitions. The Amsterdamse Bos is a home to about 150 variants of foreign and native trees and colorful collection of birds. Entertainment includes shallow swimming pools, a pancake house, a goat farm. If you want to hire a canoe or pedal boat, heat for the large lake called Grote Vijver.
The park is near to Amstelveenseweg.
Sarphatipark
Located in the heart of the peaceful district de Pijp, the park is naturally surrounded by variety of cafes and snack bars what makes them an ideal place after jogging refreshment. The park has been recently renovated and is a popular meeting place, not only for dog-walkers.
The park is near to Ceintuurbaan.
Beatrixpark
A small, pleasant and quiet park named after the Dutch Queen is one of the cleanest in Amsterdam. It is located behind the RAI congress centre in the South Amsterdam. A group of 1100 persons united in a society of the park’s friends, protects the Beatrixpark against neglect and bureaucratic lack of common sense. The society constantly observes changes in the park, keeping it in a nice, friendly shape. The park is near to Diepenbrockstraat.
Frankendael
During the early 18th century, many wealthy Amsterdammers used to build country retreats to spend their summer vacation on reclaimed land called Watergraafsmeer, south of Plantage Middelaan. Frankendael with its ornamented facade is the last of them that survived. The rare park is open to public and covers 7 hectares. One part of the park is a botanical garden that boasts some 500 varieties of wild plants and trees, of which some rarely can be seen elsewhere.
The park is near to Middenweg.
Beaches in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has four beaches which provide joy to both residents and tourists. The beaches are great for lounging, enjoying the sunshine and culinary delights. Nemo Beach (Oosterdok 2), Citybeach "Het stenen hoofd" (Silodam), Blijburg and another beach in Amsterdam Noord, Amsterdam Noord Beach welcome you on a sunny day.
Green & Beautiful Places
The city is one of the greenest in Europe, featuring 28 parks that provide different facilities for children, refreshment during summer time and sport activities. And the authorities keep reinforcing this profile, with funds being constantly destined to the expansion and renovation of parks and gardens.
Amstelpark
Just behind the freeway from the RAI congress and exhibition halls is a big park is located with several interesting gardens inside, various attractions for children, a café, a restaurant, two galleries and a mini-golf. The park was established in 1972, as one of the sites of the second world garden fair – Floriade. Once the fair ended, the municipality has maintained some of it attractions, and today Amstelpark is on of the two most popular parks in Amsterdam, the other being Vondelpark.
The park and its area
Amstelpark is located along the river Amstel. If you exit the park through its back entry, direction Amsteldijk, you may see the flow of the river, a flat country landscape on another bank and you may walk right to a big, monumental Rieker windmill from 1636. Just behind the windmill, there is a small bronze monument of Rembrandt, who used to walk here out of Amsterdam along the river and make landscape drawings. Some of these views of Amstel river were later multiplied on his prints. You may decide to walk further along the river direction south, after about 30 minutes you will reach a small village called Oudekerk. It is worthy to visit, especially if you have never been in the the Netherlands. Oudekerk will give you a good sense of the Dutch province – full of respect for local tradition, surrounded by water, very neat, clean and friendly.
Gardens:
Despite an enormous loss of almost.30 % of the bigger trees because of the tree disease a decade ago, Amstelpark remains a beautiful park in its whole parts kept as a botanical garden. There are also several complete, rigorously maintained separate gardens, a rhododendron valley with 139 sorts of the plant (8000 bushes, some of them 4 meters high), the Rosarium (a rose garden), a Belgium cloister garden, a butterfly friendly garden and others. Regrettably, not much is left from the Japanese garden. An interesting small house imitates famous Dutch architect Rietveld style of architecture.
Children love this park
Amstelpark is a wonderful place to visit with children. Directly at the Main Entry (Hoofdingang), you will see the station of a small train, which throughout the whole summer rides in the park. Behind the station, a small concrete bridge will lead you to a labyrinth. Its hedge maze is quite long (380 yards), but not very difficult – a great fun for kids. Going further left from the main entry, you will find more attractions for kids, such as a farm with sheep and goats, and a pony ride.
A big park with many attractions, quiet and well maintained. No bicycles,and no loud radios permitted, Pedestrian lanes are wide with a lot of space.
Address: Europaboulevard; 1083 HZ Amsterdam (Buitenveldert)
How to get there:
Bus - line 62, exit on a stop Weerdestein.
Car - from the ring A10 exit 109.
Vondelpark
Vondelpark - Amsterdam's Best Overall Park
Location: Museum Quarter (Oud Zuid) neighborhood.
Trams: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or 12.
Vondelpark is the largest city park in Amsterdam, and certainly the most famous park in the Netherlands, which welcomes about 10 million visitors every year. The Vondelpark is located south of Leidseplein and quite near of the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum. Vondelpark is central Amsterdam's biggest park (110 acres).
A wonderful combination of large, grassy fields, landscaped gardens (including a renowned formal rose garden); ponds and canals; miles of paved paths and wooded trails; children's wading pool and playgrounds.
The Vondelpark is loved by Amsterdammers as well as by tourists, and is many times full of people - from families and groups of picnicking friends to biking commuters and musicians in drum circles. Popular with canoodling couples in warm weather. enjoying a sunny day, dog-walking, Ideal for running, jogging, walking, biking, rollerblading (rentals available at Vondeltuin), picnicking, sunbathing, sports (frisbee, soccer, bocce, etc.).listening to music, people-watching, or just lazing about in grass.
Remarkably we have had the opportunity on occasion to seemingly have the park all to ourselves ...middle of the weak... mid gay morning... winter or autumn days when most of the city folks are working at there regular jobs - we as writers and web owners are wondering around the city checking facts and reviewing old and new haunts, we have found ourselves in Vondelpark having this beautiful retreat all to ourselves..or almost. There are always a few, other out-of-the-mainstream folks around.
Four restaurants and cafés are within the park:
- Café Vertigo at the Filmmuseum (fabulous terrace in summer)
- Het Blauwe Theehuis (The Blue Teahouse) in the mid-park '30s building that looks like a flying saucer
- Het Groot Melkhuis (The Big Milkhouse) also mid-park and popular with kids
- Vondeltuin (Vondelgarden) in the south side , a kitschy casual place with a beachy feel
Free concerts are given at the open-air theatre or in the summer at the park's bandstand. Other attractions are the statue of the poet Vondel, the cast iron music dome, the Groot Melkhuis with playground for children, and the Film museum with its popular terrace and restaurant. The Filmmuseum, the country's museum for cinematography, is located in the north of the park.
Open Air Theatre
Theatre and music is on-offer during the last 2 weeks in May, then June, July, August and the 2 first weeks of September. The open-air theater takes place in Vondelpark five days a week, near the entrance from Eeghenstraat.
The entry is free. www.openluchttheater.nl
When taking kids to Vondelpark
Vondelpark has six play areas and one large playground near Groot Melkhuis. It is also possible to rent skates there at Snoephuisje (near Amstelveenseweg entrance), pancakes are served there as well. Between 15 May and 15 September, the open air-theatre stages free children's shows on Wednesday afternoon. The Filmmuseum offer performances for children on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons.
History of the Vondelpark
In 1864 a group of prominent Amsterdammers formed a committee to found a public park. They raised money to buy 8 hectares of land and the architect L.D. Zocher was commissioned to design the park as an English landscape. They used vistas, ponds and pathways to create an illusion of a natural area. The park was open to public in 1865 as a horseback riding and strolling park named Nieuwe Park. The name Vondelpark was adopted in 1867 when a statue of Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel was situated into the park. The committee soon raised money to enlarge the park and by 1877 it reached its current space of 45 hectares. At that time its location was on the edge of Amsterdam, since then it has become central in the city, close to Leidseplein and Museumplein.
Joost van den Vondel
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Joost van den Vondel , 1587-1679, Dutch poet and dramatist, b. Cologne. He is generally considered the greatest Dutch writer. During the emergence of the Dutch nation Vondel was the national poet; his occasional verse celebrated the triumphs of the United Provinces in a vigorous oratorical style. In 1621 he fell victim to a bipolar melancholia which may have hindered his work for a while. His drama Palamedes (1625), concerning a contemporary religious-political martyrdom, made him suspect to the Calvinist officials. At this time he joined the Remonstrants, whose Arminian opposition to dogmatic Calvinism appealed to him, and later, when national independence was virtually assured, he converted (c.1641) to Roman Catholicism as a more universal faith. Many poems were inspired by his conversion and also by his grief at the death of his wife (1635) and of three of his five children.
Joost van den Vondel , 1587-1679, Dutch poet and dramatist, b. Cologne. He is generally considered the greatest Dutch writer. During the emergence of the Dutch nation Vondel was the national poet; his occasional verse celebrated the triumphs of the United Provinces in a vigorous oratorical style. In 1621 he fell victim to a bipolar melancholia which may have hindered his work for a while. His drama Palamedes (1625), concerning a contemporary religious-political martyrdom, made him suspect to the Calvinist officials. At this time he joined the Remonstrants, whose Arminian opposition to dogmatic Calvinism appealed to him, and later, when national independence was virtually assured, he converted (c.1641) to Roman Catholicism as a more universal faith. Many poems were inspired by his conversion and also by his grief at the death of his wife (1635) and of three of his five children. Vondel's verse is melodious, sonorous, and seemingly effortless and spontaneous; it is marked by vowel elision, which he brought into full use in Dutch poetry, and by rhythmic patterns reminiscent of the French. His dramatic style has been called high baroque. Built on the medieval mystery play and on classical models, his plays are Christian and semi-tragic and illuminate a recurring theme—the conflict between man's will to rebel and his desire to give himself to God. Probably the most famous are Gysbrecht van Aemstil (1637), on a medieval Dutch theme, and the magnificent Lucifer (1654, tr. 1898), which may have influenced Milton. Vondel's immense production includes numerous translations from French, Latin, Italian, and Greek, including works of Sophocles, Euripides, Vergil, Ovid, Horace, Seneca, and Tasso.
Bibliography: See A. J. Barnouw, Vondel (1925).
Museumplein - Amsterdam's Most Convenient Park
- Location: Museum Quarter (Oud Zuid) neighborhood.
- Tram lines: 2, 3, 5, 12, 16 or 24.
- Features:
- Dominated by an expanse of grass bordered by the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum (currently under renovation and located behind Central Station).
- North area includes a reflecting pool (ice-skating rink in winter), food vendors (seasonal), museum shops, a full-service restaurant (Cobra Café), a basketball court and a skating half pipe.
- Attracts mostly museum-going visitors and neighborhood locals (yours truly!).
- Ideal for picnicking, rollerblading/skateboarding (on half pipe), sports (frisbee, soccer, basketball…I've even seen cricket!) and generally lounging.
- Striking view of the Rijksmuseum makes this a favorite visitor photo spot.
- Host to outdoor concerts on Queen's Day (April 30) and the Remembrance Days (May 4-5), as well as during various festivals.
- Southeast area of the park features two WWII memorials: the Ravensbrück Monument, which commemorates the women prisoners of the Nazi concentration camp of the same name; and the Gypsy Monument, which honors the Roma and Sinti (a more acceptable name for this ethnic group) victims of the war.
Oosterpark - Most Culturally Diverse Park
- Location: Oost (East) neighborhood.
- Tram lines: 3, 7 or 9.
- Features:
- Huge grassy field; stretches of shady, waterfront lawn; large winding pond that attracts large water birds; children's wading pool; dog-friendly and dog-free zones; wide-paved paths for through bikers. One permanent food vendor; others are seasonal.
- Attracts mostly locals, who make up one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Amsterdam, home to a large Surinamese, Indonesian and Indian population. Popular with musicians, couples and families.
- Ideal for a longer park visit, as it lies quite far east of the center. Plenty of room for sports and group gatherings of all kinds.
- Located just behind the imposing KIT Tropenmuseum (KIT stands for Koninklijk Institute voor de Tropen, or Royal Tropical Institute), which was formerly dedicated to Dutch colonialism and now houses a fascinating anthropological museum about the developing world.
- Oosterpark is home to the free, open-air portion of the Amsterdam Roots Festival, a world music festival held every June in Amsterdam.
- The park has several pieces of sculpture; perhaps the most moving is the National Monument of the History of Slavery (titled "Shared Past, Common Future"), which acknowledges the country's inhumane trade that brought the ancestors of this neighborhood to the Netherlands.
This large municipal park serves culturally diverse neighborhood of East Amsterdam. Many newcomers to the city from Suriname, Turkey, Morocco and more recently from Eastern Europe, live in the area. Oosterpark is their area for walks and picnicking. This cultural blend of people is what makes Oosterpark all the more interesting and colorful.
The monuments and sculpture garden
Oosterpark features several important monuments and numerous sculptures. The National Monument of the Slavery (National Monument Slavernijverleden) by Erwin Jules de Vries, Surinamese born artist, commemorates abolition of slavery in the Netherlands (1861). Another big monument, 4,5 meters (almost 15 feet) high modern sculpture by Jeroen Henneman called “The Scream” (“De schreeuw”)– is a memorial of the film director Theo van Gogh (1957-2004), a distant cousin of the painter, murdered in 2004 by a Muslim extremist in the street nearby the park. According to its creator “Theo screams in this sculpture for mercy”.
Smaller “Flame” – a big abstract made from stainless steel pipes by contemporary artist and writer Jan Wolkers, commemorates Dutch literature movement called De Tachtigers. A sympathetic small bronze depicting three men sitting on the bench called “Titaantjes” by Hans Bayens is a monument to a writer Nescio and his colleagues. The bronze “Goat rider” (“De Bokkenrijder”) is by Gerrit Boluis, “Playing Childern” are by Kattinka van Rood, the ornamented bench from white stone is by Eduard Jacobs. It commemorates the writer Justus van Maurik (1846-1904).
Since 2005 an especially placed stone marks a public place dedicated for the free speech; similar to the Hyde Park corner in London. Several smaller sculptures make a visit to the park even more interesting.
Wild birds
Oosterpark has a large population of wild birds. Grey herons are the most visible, but you may also spot parrots, rare in the wild in Western Europe [having escaped from a shipment at Amsterdam's Shipohl Airport many years ago. Parrots are all over the city, many make their nesting home in Osterpark] The western edge of the park's lake is full of wild ducks. Many other birds also have nests in the park, so it is not difficult to observe them even during a brief visit.
History
Oosterpark has been the first big public park created by the municipality in Amsterdam. It has been designed in 1891 by Leonard Antonij Springer (1855-1940), one of the foremost landscape architects in the country, son of a known realist painter. To construct the sizable park, the municipality decided to remove a cemetery from the area and to demolish some smaller estates. Singer, later a prolific park and garden designer, author of almost 900 different projects, planned the park around an elongated lake giving it free English landscape style, which until today dominates the Dutch landscape architecture.
Address: Oosterpark; Amsterdam (Oost-Watergraafsmeer).
How to get there:
Walking – from the Tropenmuseum, the park is located just behind the museum;
Tram – line 9, exit on a stop Eerste van Swindestraat; lines 3 and 7, exit on a stop Beukenweg;
Bus - line 22, exit on a stop Eerste van Swindestraat;
Car – driving from the A 10 ring, take an exit S113 and drive direction the city centre for about 5 km along Middenweg and later Linnaeusstraat. The park will be on your left soon the Linnaeusstraat will cross the rail track. There is a metered parking in the area
Westerpark
This big green area with a theater, a cinema, an exhibition space and an events stage, bears the proud name of Culture Park Western Gas Factory (Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek). What originally was a small 19th century neighborhood park, has been united with the vast area of the defunct municipal gas installations.
History
The original park has been established in 1891. It served this quiet, working class area of Amsterdam, which bears the same name – Westerpark. Located behind the park was a gas factory built in 1883 by British Imperial Continental Gas Association. Both – the park and the factory were located at the straight road leading to Harlem – Haarlemmerweg.
It all started to change in 1960’s. Resources of the natural gas had been found in the North Sea. The gas factory became obsolete. Since then its buildings were used only for storage, or just stood empty. At the same time a strong anarchic movement of youth squatters (Dutch: krakers) by occupying some of the buildings saved them from demolition. The aesthetical values also changed - the old city installations started to look original, their architecture began to be valued. In 1989 old red brick buildings received the status of industrial monuments. The whole area of the municipal gas and water installations has been remodeled, trees planted and in 2003 Westergasfabriek has been opened to the public.
Westergasfabriek
The municipal large building divides two parts of the park – old one and new - that of the former gas factory. It is not much of the park yet, more a vast space with an art house cinema (Het Ketelhuis) two good cafés full of young people, many offices of starting up designers and fashion designers. At the back of Westergasfabriek there is a long rectangular pool for kids, perfect on a warm day.
The feel: while the old Westerpark feels like a regular small park with a few bronze sculptures and lots of green, the newly added Westergasfabriek is more of an experimental suburbia. Young public and an avant-garde atmosphere. Certainly interesting, when you have a particular event in mind.
Location: Haarlemmerweg 8-10, 1014 BE Amsterdam
How to get there:
walking - from the Dam square along the main shopping street to the West (left from the square if you stand with your back to the Palace) which will turn and change names, but eventually will live you to a small square called Harlemmerplein. Cross the bridge behind the square and you will see Westerpark on your right.
by tram – line 10, exit on a stop Van Hallstraat. You will find the Westergasfabriek behind Harlemmerweg – a busy street behind you.
by bus - from Central Station Bus 21, exit on Harlemmerweg, stop Van Hallstraat.
by car - take exit S 103 from the ring A10 West, then take right and follow the signs to Amsterdam Centre. You will see the Westergasfabriek on your left, on other side of the canal. If you arrive on the ring from the North you will have to take an exit s104, direct yourself to the city centre. As you see Westerpark on your right, turn right into the Harlemmerweg. There is a parking possibility on the Westergasfabriek grounds (you will have to cross the canal through the old iron bridge).
Website: www.westergasfabriek.nl
