Vondelpark: Amsterdam’s Beloved Green Escape
The largest and most popular English-style public park in Amsterdam. Don’t miss the Openluchttheater, the open-air theatre.
If you find yourself in Amsterdam and you are looking for a place to sunbathe, jog, play frisbee, or read a book, Vondelpark is the place for you. The most beautiful and popular park in the Dutch capital, in fact, is an unparalleled oasis of peace, enlivened by the presence of canals, water features, monuments, and gardens that cover a surface area of almost 50 hectares. With its large green spaces, scented rose gardens, playgrounds, and open-air cafés, Vondelpark offers a refuge from the frenetic pace of the city center and is appreciated by tourists and residents alike, attracting more than 10 million visitors a year.
The Origins of Vondelpark
In addition to being the largest park in Amsterdam, Vondelpark is also the oldest, having opened in 1865 when the area was only marshland. It was designed by the architects Jan David Zocher (1791-1870) and Louis Paul Zocher (1820-1915), specialists in garden design. Initially called Nieuwe Park, it was laid out in the English style, with long paths, lawns, ornamental lakes, and woods containing more than 120 varieties of trees. It was financed by an association of wealthy local residents who, at the same time, commissioned the construction of a new luxury residential district surrounding its borders. Two years after the park’s inauguration, in 1867, a statue was erected in honor of the greatest Dutch playwright, Joost van den Vondel (1587-1679), after whom the park was named.
A Hippie Haven in the 70s
Among the most notable chapters in Vondelpark’s history is the nonconformist period of the 1970s, when it became a meeting point for hundreds of hippies who flocked to Amsterdam because of its particularly tolerant laws regarding the consumption of soft drugs.
Cultural and Natural Attractions of Vondelpark
Vondelpark is located in the Oud-Zuid area of Amsterdam, southwest of the city center, not far from the Concertgebouw and the city’s most famous museums: the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Stedelijk Museum. It is the only city park in the Netherlands considered a national monument, highlighting its significance and the level of care it receives from local authorities. In addition to relaxing outdoors, Vondelpark offers the chance to admire curious and interesting attractions, and in summer, it hosts numerous events, concerts, and performances.
Scattered throughout the park, where squirrels and ducks roam, but also cows and goats, you will find a variety of attractions. There’s the Openluchttheater, which hosts cabaret shows, theatrical performances, and concerts from June to the end of August. The park also features a museum, the Vondelparkpaviljoen, which until 2009 housed the Filmmuseum. The structure, designed in Renaissance style between 1874 and 1881 by Willem Hamer jr. (1843-1913), was completely restored in 1991, but has recently lost the Filmmuseum, which used to draw in around 150,000 visitors a year.
Statues and Cafés in Vondelpark
Among the gardens and ponds, there are several statues, three of particular importance. One is the statue of Joost van den Vondel, sculpted by Louis Royer (1793-1868), while the other two are titled The Fish and Mama Baranka. The first was created by Pablo Picasso in 1965, and the second by Nelson Carrilho in 1985. The park is also filled with refreshment points and outdoor cafés, such as ‘t Blauwe Theehuis, opened in 1937 inside a building designed by the Baanders studio, La Groot Melkhuis, Vertigo, Vondeling, and Vondeltuin.
How to Reach Vondelpark
The main entrance to Vondelpark is on Stadhouderskade, and the park is open all day. To reach it by public transport, you can take tram numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, or 20, or by boat, get off at stops 5 or 6.
