Nothing is more relaxing after a long day of exploring and walking around a city than taking a moment to sit on the grass, drink some wine and enjoy the surroundings. Amsterdam has dozens of great parks, perfect for games, picnics and relaxation. Here we discover some of the best parks in the city.
Sloterplas
If you’re a fan of tulips then visit the park in the months of April and May where you’ll spot them growing along the banks of this man-made lake. There’s also a sand patch on one side which makes it perfect for relaxing and swimming in the summer months – but the locals do treat it like a trip to the seaside, so it does get busy. The park is also a welcome escape from the city and popular with young families because of the small zoo and winding paths which make it perfect for biking. It also hosts a number of festivals, such as the Mystic Garden in the month of June, Loveland in August and the West Beach Film Festival in August. It’s slightly off the beaten track and west of the city centre, but you can get there by catching the number 14 tram from Dam Square. Amstelpark
This magical park is definitely worth a visit. Located on the southern edge of the city, it’s bursting with wildlife and colourful flowers. It was created in 1972 for Floriade, a festival which saw gardeners from all over the world create spectacular floral displays. Many of them were preserved and the area was turned into a public park the following year but the exhibition still happens every 10 years. There’s also a petting zoo and playgrounds for children – but also keep an eye out for the chickens and rabbits which run free. If you’re tired after exploring the city and fancy relaxing, why not catch the small train which loops around the park between the months of April to October.
Museumplein
More of a green city square than a park, Museumplein is full of culture. You’ll want to visit this area to take in the rich history at the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum and the Moco Museum. There’s also plenty of high end shopping that you could do and afterwards sit in the square to enjoy Swedish landscape architect Sven-Ingvar Andersson’s work. He reconstructed it in 1999 and these days it is a home for celebrations, festivals and mass political demonstrations. Once you’ve had enough of the outdoors, pop underground to check out the supermarket.
The city’s most famous park, Vondelpark is conveniently situated close enough to all the main tourist sites for visitors and locals alike to go there on sunny days and take advantage of the good weather. There are several cafes sprawled around that serve great food. From June to September the Vondelpark Open Air Theater puts on free events, such as concerts and shows.
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