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Spring has finally sprung here in the Netherlands after a very long, very cold winter. And with the spring comes the sun. And once the sun finally decides to show its smiling face, the Dutch flock outside to terraces, balconies, back and front yards, and local parks.
If you're looking for the place to be in Amsterdam this, or any, spring (or this is any summer, for that matter) that place is the famous Vondelpark.
Clocking in at 116 acres, it's the largest park in the city and calls the heart of Amsterdam home. It's an absolutely gorgeous location with lots of luscious greenery, beautiful flowers, impressive statues and sculptures, wooded trails, canals and a pond complete with cascading fountains.
The concept for the park in was born in 1864 and in 1953, the completed Vondelpark was sold to the Amsterdam city council. Named for Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel, the park welcomes roughly ten million visitors each year. That works out to 21 visitors per square meter each year. New York's Central Park only sees some 5 visitors per square meter per year. Take that, Central Park!
Like it's New York cousin, Vondelpark is a great place to skate, cycle, stroll, sunbathe, enjoy a book or magazine, lounge about with friends, play with the dog, get cozy with one of Vondelpark's many feathered residents, or have a picnic.
But there's much more than that. There are playgrounds for the kids and four bar/restaurants where you can recharge. The Film Museum is located right on the grounds in the Vondelpark Pavilion. If skating's your thing, Vondelpark's got you covered with an inline skate rental at the Snoephuisje by the Amstelveenseweg entrance.
Turns out, Jan David Zocher's park design also lends itself to live performances. The Vondelpark open air theater offers up for dance, theater and music performances a week free to the public between June and August. And, in just a few day's time, Vondelpark will turn into one big yard sale to celebrate Queen's Day. Make sure to wear your orange for the occasion!
If the weather turns sour (as it is wont to do here in the Netherlands), the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum are just a five minute walk away.
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