The beginning of the park was named nieuwe. Best parks in the world: Vondelpark in Amsterdam. What does the Vondelpark look like today?

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Amsterdam Parks - Where to Relax in the City

Amsterdam is a very old, but at the same time green city, and in old Europe, one rarely goes together with the other. Moreover, some parks in Amsterdam have long become known to the whole world, attracting a number of tourists dozens of times greater than the population of Amsterdam itself. Let's find out which parks in Amsterdam are definitely worth a visit and why they are so popular among tourists.

From the history

Vondelpark (Vondelpark) - although not the largest green area in Amsterdam, but definitely the most famous and visited. In many ways, this fame is due to the proximity to the Museum Square (Museumplein) and the main museums of the city on it - the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stendelijk Museum.

The history of the park once again shows the incredibly persistent citizenship of the Netherlands. In 1864, the townspeople formed a special committee to establish a city park. Having collected money and bought 8 hectares of land, they commissioned Jan David Zocher to design the entire park in the then fashionable English style - with thickets of trees and ponds, like in a forest. By the way, it was Zocher and his son, also a landscape designer, who designed Keukenhove and many other parks in Amsterdam.

At first the park was called Nieuwe Park (New Park), it acquired its modern name in 1867 after a statue of the Dutch poet Joost van del Vondel was installed there.

Time passed, the park expanded, and now its area is 47 hectares - about 60 football fields.

Interesting fact

No matter how beautiful the nature of the Netherlands is, being below sea level in a swampy area still gets sideways for the locals - every 30 years the park must undergo major restoration work. If this is not done, then, in other words, the land will gradually begin to subside, and the park will simply flood.

The problem is especially obvious when, towards the end of this 30-year period, after heavy rains, the ponds burst their banks and begin to flood everything around. Moreover, it is impossible to pump out water just like that - this will reduce the level of groundwater, which may cause damage to the foundations of old buildings around.

What to see in the park

The parks of Amsterdam will be most interesting for those who like to relax noisily and cheerfully, especially in summer. From May to September in Vondelpark Open Air Theater, an open-air concert venue, hosts children's concerts, as well as concerts of classical and contemporary music.

You can dine outdoors in the restaurant De Vondeltuin(menu ), and if you want the parks of Amsterdam to leave pleasant memories for your children, go to The Kinderkookkafe, where children themselves aged 8-12 are engaged in cooking and serving guests (of course, under the supervision of adults).

In general, the parks of Amsterdam, and especially the Vondelpark, are saturated with some kind of special atmosphere. Vondelpark is full of fitness centers and yoga studios, and trainers often arrange outdoor workouts for their charges. Therefore, in the evening you can see hundreds of athletes here - who run, who do functional training, who ride sports bikes.

And the owners with dogs there are simply unmeasured. Tailed frolic, run after sticks, chase ducks. You will hardly see such an idyll anywhere else.

Another Amsterdam Vondelpark - also called Love Park - is famous for the fact that here you can absolutely legally have sex, but only in the evening and out of sight of others, of course. However, in the evenings there are so many people in Vondelpark that this is initially a failed undertaking, so it is better to move to a hotel with your romance ...

Open 24/7. You can take trams 1, 2, 3, 5, 12.

Sarfatipark, Rembrandpark, Westerpark and other parks in Amsterdam within the city

A couple of blocks from the Vondelpark is the Rembrandtpark. This is a much quieter place than Vondelpark, but in size it is never inferior to the first. In design, it is also as close as possible to natural nature. With children, you can go to the petting zoo De Uylenburgh, the oldest in the city.

Literally a block from the Albert Cuyp market is located Sarfatipark. Other parks in Amsterdam are far ahead in size, but this is an ideal place for a quiet picnic.

Not far from Leidesplein, you can see Kleine Gartmanplantsoen - a small square opposite the De Balle cinema, where bronze iguanas are installed on the lawn. Among tourists, this place is called "iguana park".

There is a Westerpark in the north-west of the city - there are few tourists here, but full of local youth. Especially in summer, when dozens of music festivals take place here.

amsterdam forest

If you want to hide from the eyes of hundreds of tourists and spend the whole day in nature, then rent a bike and go to Amsterdamse Bos. This giant is much ahead of other parks in Amsterdam - if the area of ​​the Vondelpark is 47 hectares, then the area of ​​​​the Amsterdam Forest is 10 km 2 (1000 hectares).

And what’s not here is a petting zoo where they make their own cheese and ice cream, an open-air theater, a botanical garden, a riding school, boat rental, an outdoor pool, etc. If you are tired, you can refresh yourself in one of the several cafes in the forest.

And certainly other parks in Amsterdam will not be able to give you such tranquility as the Amsterdam Forest - there are always very few people here compared to the same Vondelpark.

It’s pointless to go here for a couple of hours - you won’t even see a quarter of everything, so set aside a whole day for a bike ride. Yes, and there is a forest, obviously not in the center - between and the city of Amstelveen near Amsterdam.

Keukenhof

From the history

The history of the garden begins in the 15th century. Initially, Keukenhove was exclusively a hunting ground at the castle of the Countess of Gennegau - Ostensibly Bavaria (the modern Keukenhove castle was built only in the 17th century). In the same gardens, herbs were grown for the court kitchen and flowers for interior decoration.

In the 19th century, Keukenhov acquired its modern look - Jan David Zocher and his son were attracted to organize the garden. By that time, my father had already managed to design other parks in Amsterdam. And officially the garden was opened in 1949 as an exhibition center where any Dutch and European companies could show off their new varieties of flowers.

Why tulips?

It so happened historically that tulips, and indeed any flowers, are very dear to the heart for the Dutchman. They represent joy, spring, family comfort, and fresh flowers stand in Dutch homes almost all year round. This is not surprising - a bouquet can be bought for only 2-3€.

Interestingly, during the most difficult winter for the Netherlands in 1944-1945, when the country was occupied and the harvest failed, flower bulbs saved thousands of people from starvation. By the end of the occupation, in the spring, the British and US Air Forces began to drop food to the starving population, and in response, they planted the inscription “Thank you very much” with flowers.

Tulips for the Dutch are more than just flowers. Probably, it was this fact that contributed to the fact that Keukenhof today is the most famous flower garden in the world.

How the garden is organized

If there are only flowers in the garden, then this is a large flower bed, not a garden. Therefore, Keukenhof is a full-fledged park with trees, bushes, lush lawns, where you can give your eyes a rest from the colorful flower beds before the next “sunset”.

In total, more than 7 million flower bulbs are planted annually on 32 hectares of land. Moreover, after the end of the season, all the flowers are dug up and sent for processing into compost, because. there is a risk that a weak flower will grow from the “old” bulb next year, and this cannot be allowed.

During the flower season, festivals and celebrations are also held here - in 2016, the Dutch Heritage Week, the Flower Parade and the Days of Romance in Keukenhof took place here.

Near the garden stands the old Keukenhof castle - only tours are not conducted there, it is mainly used for celebrating weddings.

Once a year, Castlefest is also held here - a festival during which you can listen to Dutch folklore, participate in medieval rituals and battles, and try yourself as an artisan.

As you can see, there is enough entertainment for everyone in Keukenhof, and if you have already been there once, feel free to come again - you will not see the same flower beds again.

When is Keukenhof open and how much is the entrance

The flower season lasts only 2 months - next time the garden will be open from March 23 to May 21, 2017. Tickets are sold out very actively, so book them well in advance. Tickets will be valid throughout the season.

Because the garden is located 35 km from Amsterdam, you also need to take into account the cost of travel. But the organizers prudently put on sale combined tickets, which include the fare from different cities - Amsterdam, Leiden, Harlem or Schiphol Airport.

Address: Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse

How to get there: from Amsterdam - by train from the central station to Airport Schiphol, from there bus 361

Schedule: will be open from March 23 to May 21, 2017, check the exact opening hours closer to these dates

Entry fee: 16€ for adults and 8€ for children 4-11 years old

Efteling

This amusement park cannot be said to fit well into the article about the parks of Amsterdam (it is 105 km away), but we will tell you about it anyway - the place is already very interesting.

Efteling is an amusement park in Amsterdam (near Amsterdam, to be precise), the largest in the Benelux, open all year round without exception.

The amusement park includes 6 roller coasters and 35 rides, and there are a lot of specific and thematic ones, such as the revolving house Villa Volta.

Eftenilg Park includes the Fairy Forest, where characters from our favorite fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Andersen come to life.

In the evening, it's a good idea to go see the Aquanura Musical Fountain, opened for the park's 60th anniversary in 2012. It is often compared to the Disney World of Color light show in California in terms of spectacle, and in terms of size it is the third musical fountain in the world after the fountains in Dubai and at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas.

There is an amusement park map.

Address: Europalaan 1, 5171 KW Kaatsheuvel

How to get there: from Amsterdam - 2 hours on the way. First by train to s'Hertogenbosch? From there bus 300 to Tilburg, get off at the stop Kaatsheuvel, Efteling

Schedule: open all year round, for detailed opening hours and availability see

Entry fee: from 34.5€, free for children under 4 years old. Details

Story

19th century

20th century

In 1936, a rose garden was created in the center of the park. A year later, in 1937, the Blauwe Theehuis ("Blue Tea Room") was opened. This teahouse is a round Art Nouveau building. In later years, due to heavy use, the overall maintenance of the park became too expensive for the Ride and Walk Park Building Association, and in 1953 the association donated the park to Amsterdam. The park has been slightly remodeled for better use and maintenance. Playgrounds were created in the 1960s. In the days of the hippies, in the 1960s and 1970s, the Vondelpark became a symbol of a place where "everything is possible and (almost) everything is allowed." In the 1980s, an open-air theater was built. The Vondelpark received the status of a "national monument" in 1996.

XXI Century

In the 1990s, the number of visitors grew to about 10 million people annually. This has led to new updates that take place between 2010 and 2010. Their goal is to revitalize the park's monumental significance. The renovation takes ten years to reduce the inconvenience to visitors.

In every journey, there comes a moment when fatigue takes over, and you just want to lie on the grass, straining your muscles as little as possible. If you are planning to visit Amsterdam, then of course you will have the opportunity to relax in this way. When you walk through the European streets, taste the local cuisine and visit all the planned museums, head to the Vondelpark - there you will find peace bordering on euphoria.

Wonderful birdsong, timid glances of fallow deer from the thicket, perfect lawns, lush flower beds - all this you will find in the city park. It was created quite a long time ago, 150 years ago, and at first it was called the New Park. Over time, the effect of novelty began to disappear, and this place needed a different name. Just at that time, a monument to the famous playwright Jost van den Vondel was erected here - this was the reason for the renaming. From its inception to the present day, the park has not changed its appearance, it was created in the manner of an English garden - it is, let's say, a cultivated forest, without frills and pretentiousness. By the way, after the last overhaul, this place began to look even more natural.

If you get bored with the murmur of streams and the noise of foliage, then you can walk along the paths and visit several establishments located in the park area. For example, you can go to the pavilion of the 19th century, which is located on the edge of the park. There is a hostel for lovers of budget travel, as well as the Museum of Cinema, which constantly hosts film screenings - from the very first films in the world to modern films. In another part of the park, there is a beautiful theater that welcomes spectators during the summer months. Here you can see a variety of performances, performances, concerts. The site is interesting in that it is multi-format - representatives of completely different genres and directions of art are on stage: pop, rock, ethnic, modern theater. This temple of Melpomene is sponsored by the city, so admission is free.

In Vondel you can rent recreational vehicles - skateboards, roller skates, segways, bicycles. If you don’t like walking, then on a two-wheeled friend you can go around all corners of this wonderful place quite quickly and diversify your vacation. Also, any tourist can play tennis for a small fee on a professional court located in the thicket of the park. And local restaurants with outdoor terraces serve tasty and inexpensive dishes of national cuisine. So, if you go to Amsterdam, visit the Vondelpark, where you can relax both in body and soul.

When planning a trip to Amsterdam, do not forget to include Vondelpark in your list of places to visit. It is the largest park in the city and also one of the most famous places in the Netherlands with over 10 million tourists visiting every year. Vondelpark - the original name of the park - is located 15 minutes by bike from the main station, close to the State Museum and. The park is ideal for a family holiday or a romantic walk at any time of the year.

History of creation

The origin of Vondelpark dates back to the middle of the 19th century, when the "Association for the Construction of a Park for Riding and Walking" was created by a group of like-minded people. The organization raised money for the purchase of 8 hectares of land for the construction of a park with the then fashionable English landscape design.

The architect was Jan David Zocher, as well as his son Louis Paul Zocher, who, by the way, designed the famous and other Dutch gardens. The park, known at that time as the "New Park", was opened to the public in 1865, and in 1877 it reached an area of ​​45 hectares. Over time, Vondelpark delighted its visitors more and more: a stage intended for concerts and celebrations was built on the territory of the park, a spacious pavilion replaced a small hut, an amazing rose garden was also created and the original Blauwe Theehuis confectionery was opened.

In 1953, due to lack of funds for maintenance, the Association donated the park to Amsterdam. Since then Vondelpark has been renovated and improved.

Vondelpark today: features and attractions

What is Vondelpark famous for? Let's start with the fact that this is not just a park, but a whole little world in. Someone here or on roller skates, someone goes jogging along the park or does yoga, someone gathers here with a company for outdoor games or a picnic, and someone comes to the park just to walk among the enchanting greenery and admire nature.

The main feature of the park is its amazing landscapes - the nature of Vondelpark is rich in Dutch red chestnuts, birches, amazingly beautiful trees - catalpas, as well as numerous shrubs and herbs. This place is also home to many birds: here you are sure to meet wild ducks, geese, swans and even a great blue heron.

Well, the pearl of Vondelpark is rightfully considered a magnificent rose garden, which park workers and volunteers look after with special trepidation. There are more than 70 types of roses in the gardens of the rose garden, and nothing can describe their beauty better than getting to know them.

In addition, in the park you will find unique sculptures, such as a very impressive bronze monument dedicated to the poet Vondel, the abstract work "Fish" by Pablo Picasso. Also since 1985, the Vondelpark has housed a statue with a rich history called "Mother Bagel" by Nelson Carillo, considered a symbol of the fight against racism.

The summer open-air theater is especially popular. Admission is free for visitors of all ages, and most performances can be easily understood without knowing Dutch. Be sure to visit the Vondelpark from end to end and you will be able to see the incredible work of Dutch artists, dance performances, musical and humorous performances. Also in the park there are roller skate rentals and tennis courts, and even golf tournaments are held. Vondelpark has 6 small and 1 large playgrounds, and in the summer there are not only theater performances, but also children's entertainment shows in the fresh air. Well, on the outskirts of the park is the Gothic church Vondelkerk (Vondelstraat 120a, 1054 GS), the creator of which, by the way, designed the Vondelstraat street itself, which runs along the Vondelpark.

Before going to the park, you can look at the website http://vondelpark.com/ and find the event you are interested in in the "Agenda" section. For example, on April 26, 2016, the park will host the Vondel Festival - a show of cabaret, musical theater and classical music, for which special guests have already been invited - famous Dutch musical theater artists. By the way, the venue is kept secret from the guests until the last minute, which gives the event a certain mystery and arouses special interest of the audience.

Cafes and restaurants inVondelpark

At Vondelpark 3, 1071 AA, the former pavilion houses the main restaurant with a large private terrace, called the Vondelpark/3 Kitchen&Bar.

Here you can taste traditional as well as modern dishes. You can be offered sandwiches, salads, hot dishes and soups. For example, the cost of an omelette from the breakfast menu varies between 5-7 euros, and a sandwich within 6-10 euros, salads are offered for 13 euros, tomato or mushroom soup for 7 euros, and hot dishes from 7 to 17 euros. There are also alcoholic drinks: white, red and rose wine with a cost of 4-8 euros per glass. We want to inform travelers about the availability of a special children's menu in the restaurant. Vondelpark/3 Kitchen&Bar is open daily: from 9:30 am to 6 pm on Monday and Tuesday, from 9:30 am to 8 pm on other days and until 1 am on weekends. The building also hosts various events, it has its own studio rooms, a winter garden, a media cafe for business meetings, and a bar.

At the southernmost point of the park is Vondeltuin (Vondelpark 7, 1075 VR) - an outdoor cafe with a large terrace and a cozy atmosphere.

Many tourists and locals come here to eat and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the institution. Pass the time with a cup of hot tea or coffee for about 2-3 euros, or stay in Vondeltuin after a long walk in the park for a delicious lunch - sandwiches are served at a cost of 7 euros, salads for 11 euros. On hot days, you can stop at the cafe for cold drinks to take with you. The establishment is open to visitors daily from 10 am until late in the evening.

Interesting data

• It is easy to guess that Vondelpark owes its name to the most outstanding Dutch poet and writer of the 17th century, Jost van den Vondel, whose statue was installed in the park 2 years after the opening.
• In 1966, the park was awarded the status of a national monument of the Netherlands.
• Vondelpark is completely reconstructed every 30 years, as the actual ground level here is constantly lowering. Otherwise, the entire park may be flooded.
• Since 2008, adult citizens have been officially allowed to have sex in the Vondelpark. The authorities of the city argued their decision by the fact that it is impossible to forbid people what is impossible to forbid. Couples in love are required to stay away from playgrounds and leave no trash behind. I must say that this is the only such park in the world.
• An interesting fact is that in 2009 a picnic was organized in the park, which was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest organized picnic in the world. More than 400 people took part in the event.

Vondelpark (Amsterdam, Netherlands): detailed description, address and photo. Opportunities for sports and recreation, infrastructure, cafes and restaurants in the park. Reviews of tourists.

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The Vondelpark is the perfect balance of wildlife with a modern approach to park recreation. Do you want to roll on the grass? Please, and they won’t say a word, the lawn is constantly looked after. Are you longing to be surrounded by birds and animals? For God's sake! Here you and game frolic, and domestic dogs walk without leashes, but under the strict and tireless supervision of the owners. They say that it is even officially allowed to make love here, but only away from playgrounds and public trails. In a word, if you suddenly begin to feel uncomfortable in the center of a large metropolis and want, like Robinson, to be on a desert island - this place will do "one hundred percent". Not devoid of all the charms of civilization, the park has been and remains an oasis of silence, peace and greenery in the heart of the Dutch capital.

The history of the Vondelpark is very impressive: it was opened more than 150 years ago, but was originally called "New". Until a monument was erected here in honor of the famous playwright of the 17th century Jost van den Vondel, which decided the fate of his name. Despite its impressive age, this English landscape park strictly adheres to its original concept, without deviating from it one iota.

After the recent reconstruction of the park, the illusion of a wild corner of nature in the center of the metropolis has only been strengthened. All local artificial reservoirs were combined into one large one, stylizing the shores as natural lakes and rivers.

It is not surprising that about 10 million people visit the park every year. Most of them are for jogging, dog walking, picnics, simple wallowing on the grass or watching the child frolic on the playground. For tourists, there are special pleasures.

For example, located on the edge of the Vondelpark, the 19th century pavilion that houses the Film Museum and the StayOkay hostel. The second one will be of interest only to radically “green” travelers who cannot imagine a morning without a run in the park, but everyone without exception will like the Film Museum. A variety of films are shown here - from old silent films of the 19th century to modern 3D blockbusters (although the latter, to be honest, are a minority). In addition, the museum constantly organizes exhibitions, lectures and discussions, and in the summer invites all guests to enjoy watching movies in the open air. The cost of visiting the museum - from 8 EUR.

The second attraction of the Vondelpark is the open-air theatre, which is only open from June to August. Classical and pop music, ethnic tunes and dances, musicals and cabaret - the theater knows no boundaries in its work, that's why it's so interesting to come here. Thanks to subsidies from the city government, all the performances of this "temple of Melpomene" are free for visitors. But for a donation of a couple of euros, if you liked the performance, they will not be condemned.

The rest of the entertainment is short: the park also has a skateboard rental, a rose garden where more than 70 varieties of roses grow, tennis courts where the prestigious Vondelpark Open competitions take place every year, and the rest of the time you can just rent a racket and a field for mere mortals. Hungry tourists are waiting for several cafes and restaurants in the park with outdoor terraces, for example, Groot Melkhuis or Blauwe Theehuis.

Practical information

Address: Amsterdam, Vondelpark.

How to get there: trams No. 1, 2 run from the city center towards the park. The first route runs from the north side of the park, the nearest stops are Overtoomsesluis, Rhijnvis Feithstraat and J.P. Heijestraat. Tram number 2 goes around the park from the south, it is best to get off at the Corn stop. Schuytstraat. Leidseplein is about 10 minutes on foot.