After passing through the ornate black and gold ironwork gate at the main entrance off Stadhouderskade, two blocks west of the Rijksmuseum, visitors experience an immediate sense of calm descend from a leafy canopy high above them. As the cacophony of the city falls away, they find themselves in a green, natural world far removed in spirit from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam.
Vondelpark History
Originally, the area that is now Vondelpark was a forested moor slated to be the site for a railway station. The idea to turn it into a city park that would offer respite from Amsterdam’s energy and provide a place for riding and strolling was the brainchild of a group of high-profile Amsterdammers led by C.P. van Eeghen, president of the National Bank. The private group commissioned architect L.D. Zocher to design the park in the style of a verdant English garden.
In 1865, the rectangular-shaped expanse opened as “Nieuwe Park” (New Park). It was renamed “Vondelpark” (Vondel’s Park) in 1867 when sculptor Louis Rover’s statue of celebrated Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel was positioned on a knoll on the park’s northern edge. In 1877, an enhancement by Louis Paul Zocher, the original architect’s son, brought the park to its current size. In 1880, its name was officially changed to Vondelpark.
When the association that owned the park could no longer afford its maintenance, it donated the acreage to the public. Since 1953, Vondelpark has been a gem owned by the City of Amsterdam. In 1996, it was named a state monument.
Amsterdam's Largest Park
Today Vondelpark welcomes some 10 million visitors annually. Among them are walkers, joggers, skaters, bike riders and those who come simply to people-watch and laze on the grass on sunny days. As the largest park in Amsterdam and the most famous one in the Netherlands, it’s beloved by locals and tourists alike.
Many like to linger on the terrace of its film museum —a movie-buff’s dream, where selections from a 30,000-film collection are shown regularly. Others enjoy free concerts and live performances encompassing dance, cabaret and drama at an open air theater, near the entrance off Eeghenstraat. In summer, entertainers performing in a range of genres appear on the bandstand. Throughout the year, parents throw balls to kids and couples kiss on open fields where native flora and fauna thrive.
Vondelpark for Children
A popular Amsterdam attraction for children, Vondelpark boasts numerous play areas and one large playground near Groot Melkhuis. Kids can rent skates at Snoephuisje (near the Amstelveenseweg entrance) and refuel there with pancakes afterwards.
Within the park, several cafés offer drinks and snacks. On a sunny day, a better choice might be luncheon on the grass with sandwich fixings purchased from any of the small markets or delis in the swank district surrounding Vondelpark.
Melissa Adams - Since 2007, when a trip to Amsterdam inspired my decision to rent out my home in Newport Beach, California and spend nearly half of every ...
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