Spending an afternoon outdoors enjoying nature
is also an option that any tourist visiting Amsterdam should take into consideration.
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. Pools, sandpits,
playgrounds and open-air theatres are only some of the attractions besides the
grass and proliferation of trees.
Vondelpark
can be the ideal place to rest after a visit to the Museum Quarter: at a walking
distance from the Van Gogh and the Stedelijk Museums, it is the largest green
area in the city. This ample park with a playground and bar offers a summer programme
that is pretty famous among children in Amsterdam: free entertainment is provided
during the afternoon, with activities going from theatre plays and concerts to
performances by mime artists and acrobats.
At
Amstelpark's, located in Buitenveldert`s suburbs, children can play minigolf,
ride ponies or enjoy the playground; in summer, a miniature train becomes part
of the offer too. If you are looking for solitude and wilderness, check out Flevopark,
ideal for picnics or walking around: this place also comes in handy on summer
days, because at the adjacent Flevoparkbad there are two outdoor swimming pools,
complimented by a toddlers' paddling pool.
However,
most of Amsterdam's better parks are a bit farther from the city, nearly at the
edge of it. The Amsterdamse Bos is a woodland park with ample playgrounds and
the Bosbaan, a lake for boating and rowing competitions. The site also features
the Bosmuseum (where tourists can get maps of the park with detailed walking routes),
and Bio Dyn Geitenkaasboerderij, a goat farm with more than one hundred milk goats.
Last but not least, Gaasperplas Park provides the best facilities for sports practise
and the entertainment of children: therefore, the minor tourists can enjoy the
playground while parents exercise, and during summer all members of the family
can go for a dive, either at the paddling pool or the lake.
The
Jordaan
Amsterdam has a whole neighbourhood
dedicated to flowers and plants: the Jordaan district was named after the French
word for garden, "jardin". In order to honour this curious origin, the
quarter`s streets also received the name of wilderness leading actors, such as
Rozengracht (Rose), Goudbloemstraat (Marigold) and Tuinstraat (Garden). Around
these paths, different scenarios respond to the general atmosphere: ample gardens,
like the ones at Willet-Holthuysen and Van Loon museums, compliment smaller front
ones with lovely pots of flowers adding their colours and enchanting parfum to
the district.
Museum Willet-Holthuysen
In 1895, Willet-Holthuysen's widow decided to donate her spectacular canal
house to Amsterdam, providing it was turned into a museum. The building, from
the 17th century, is surrounded by a canal garden that was set a hundred years
later in French baroque style and is one of the ample gardens in the city. A
visit to the Museum Willet-Holthuysen, which now belongs to Amsterdam`s Historic
Museum, enables visitors to know a real canal house as well as the lifestyle of
a wealthy family: kept in its original style, the mansion boasts magnificent rooms
in the ground floor, among which you should not miss the ballroom, garden room
and hall.
Museum van Loon
Another
baroque garden set in the Jordaan district is the one located at Van Loon Museum.
The house features a garden room where the best views are guaranteed, and a garden
house with a prolific decoration of pillars, sculptures and tympanums on the façade.
Acquired by the Van Loon family in 1884, the building dates as far back as the
1672, though it received some luxurious ornaments in the 18th century: mirrors,
panels and plasterwork were the only additions to the original structure set on
the Keizersgracht.
Hortus Botanicus
Plantage Middenlaan 2a
The Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam is one of
the oldest in the world, with thousands of plants as well as closed spaces that
share their charm with the overwhelming nature. Founded originally as a medicinal
herb in 1638, it features three buildings that are worth visiting, once you have
admired the greenery and foliage. An orangery from the 19th century works nowadays
as the museum café, after years of housing citrus trees; at the ample Palm
house you will find an amazing collection of cycads palm; and the climate glasshouse,
a recent creation from 1993, will surely surprise you with its different sections
dedicated to subtropical, tropical and desert habitats, each of these with its
particular assortment of plants and flowers.
The
Rijksmuseum Garden
The best concealed secret at the most famous museum
in Amsterdam is its beautiful garden, that not many tourists know of. The Rijksmuseum
Garden guarantees a pleasing walk under the sunshine after the tour along its
halls and corridors: a variety of flowers, sculptures, water fountains and summerhouses
decorate the garden, which was designed by the same architect that constructed
the museum, P. Cuypers. The main attraction at the Rijksmuseum Garden goes, however,
way beyond the surrounding greenery. Ruins from all over Holland, dating from
different eras in history, were put together in a special part of the garden,
in a fascinating "summary" that shows details from the local culture
and the evolution of architecture along five centuries. This original setting
was incorporated to the Rijksmuseum in the 19th century, with fragments of gothic
style and town gates, just to name a few items.
Vondelpark
The largest park in Amsterdam and the favourite among its inhabitants is Vondelpark,
located near the Leidseplein and the Museum quarter. This relevant place in Holland's
capital was planned by the architect L.D. Zocher, and by 1865 it had opened its
doors for the people to enjoy the ponds and stroll around the 8 original hectares
of land. A committee was formed in 1864 with the prospect of creating a public
park and the design was established by Zocher and his son, who chose the English
style. Vistas and pathways were some of the elements incorporated to create an
illusion of a natural landscape, which at first received the name of Nieuwe Park.
It was not until 1867 that the word Vondelpark was used, due to a statue of the
Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel placed in the garden. Nowadays, a varied range
of activities from walking to skating can be practised at this spot in Amsterdam,
way apart form the bustle of the city centre.
Sarphatipark
If you are looking for a place to relax below the shadows of trees, away from
traffic and busy downtown in Amsterdam, plan a day at Sarphatipark, a small green
area located in Oud Zuid. Designed in English landscape style, the beauty of the
grounds is complimented by that of the grand houses surrounding the park. The
Sarphatipark owes its name to its creator, doctor Samuel Sarphati, who noticed
that the centre of Amsterdam was getting far too crowded and small for the increasing
population the second half of the 19th century was experiencing: one of the main
problems of this growth was the scarce accommodation for workers. Therefore, he
began to build a suburb to attract these people, and made big spaces the landmark
of the new area, including a park in the middle of the houses. Sarphati`s work
was continued by the city engineer Van Niftrik, who followed the principles of
English landscape style.
Frankendael
Many of the parks anyone can enjoy today in Amsterdam used to be the backyards
of grand houses and summer retreats of the wealthy: the Frankendael park is no
exception. Created in the 18th century besides the homonymous house, it has its
main entrance at Middenweg 172. There is a botanical garden with dozens of wild
plants and trees, as well as a natural garden, where many rare species can be
found as you stroll along narrow paths hidden in the shrubbery. Once you have
visited these attractions, don't miss the secret garden. As regards the house,
it was founded by Nicolaas van Liebergen in 1660 and a complete renovation took
place in 1733, ordered by the new owner, Izaak Balde Van Frankendael, who gave
the property its actual name and also expanded the garden.
Amsterdam
Canals
The beauty of Amsterdam's many waterways doesn't always relate
to the pleasing "mini cruises" on local boats: the canal gardens have
a charm of their own, as they usually present a quietness never to be found at
the city centre. They are mainly located around the Keizersgracht and the Herengracht
and their layout is pretty varied. Among the gardens you can find, be sure to
check the floating gardens on the houseboats` roofs, where these two attractions
of waterways are guaranteed (sailing and relaxing on the grass at the same time).
Meanwhile, behind the amazing canal houses there is always a marvellous garden
to discover.
Restaurant Gardens
Once you have toured along the canals, visited the gardens and enjoyed the
luxury of canal houses, delicious meals of even a soft drink are available at
the restaurants and bars overlooking the water. Placed mainly in the Reguliersdwarsstraat
and the Herengracht, the experience can be pretty unique, for example at the former
coach house that serves dinner right beside the canal. If you are planning your
stay for summer season and don't want to miss this lifetime outing, book in advance
for they are really popular.
Amsterdamse
Bos
Placed within the municipalities of Amsterdam, Amstelveen and Aalsmeer,
the Amsterdamse Bos (which stands for "Amsterdam Wood") is an ideal
destiny to spend a whole day surrounded by nature. Rabbits, squirrels, frogs and
woodpeckers are just some of the species you will find enjoying the variety of
exotic plants, as well as small lakes and the rowing-coarse Bosbaan. For tea time,
Meerzicht, a pancake restaurant, is the right choice, which you will find by the
end of the Bosbaan. And when the sun sets, at the Bosmuseum there are permanent
exhibitions showing the process of planting and maintenance of the wood.
Hofjes
If there is a classic in Amsterdam, it is without any doubt the "Hofjes",
these inner courtyards in beautiful little houses that used to be occupied by
women who were Dutch reformed, either belonging to the Mennonite, Lutheran or
Catholic churches. The "Hofjes" were quite typical in the 14th and 15th
centuries, and 47 of them have been kept till today, guaranteeing a travel to
the past for any visitor. The wealthy, often childless inhabitants were the ones
who mainly chose this construction style, which was also called "guesthouse"
o "widow's house".
Begijnhof
Spui/Begijnensloot
The Begijnhof was the first inner court to be founded during the Middle Ages:
therefore it was entirely surrounded by canals, and its street level is one metre
below the rest of the old downtown. Originally it was created as a sort of convent
and traditional town houses were built around it. Among these, you should not
miss the "Houten Huys", one of the two wooden houses that are still
preserved from the 15th century.
Raepenhofje
Palmgracht
28-38
The Raepenhofje is one of the "hofjes" in Amsterdam, where
Protestant ladies used to live. Nowadays it accommodates young people, but it
also attracts tourists: this gatehouse features a charming commemorative stone
with the building's date, 1648, when Pieter Adriaensz constructed it.
Looyershofje
Nieuwe
Looyersstraat 20-40
Another "hofje" that went from accommodating
single old women to students in the 21st century is Looyershofje, founded in 1828/29
by Lady Anna Maria Elisabeth Elias.
Nieuwe
Suykerhofje
Prinsengracht 385-393
On the Prinsengracht you will find
another "hofje", in this case built in 1755 by Gerrit ten Sanden and
his wife. Though at first it accommodated young people, it was closed for a complete
renovation.
Van Brants-Rushofje
Nieuwe
Keizersgracht 28-44
One of the strictest "hofjes" in Amsterdam
was the Vab Brants-Rushofje, founded by Christoffel Brants on 20 May 1732. It
only allowed the accommodation of "needy poor women, older than 50 years
and of Lutheran conviction", as it used to announce publicly. Built by the
architect Daniël Marot, it also features some decorative attractions, such
as a façade in Louis XIV style and Christoffel Brants' coat of arms. Nowadays,
this "hofje" has been turned into modernized cottages where nurses live.
