10 Best Parks in Amsterdam

Vondelpark is a popular urban park encompassing 47 hectares of space within Amsterdam-Zuid with its own theater and playground among other attractions. The Vondelpark Openluchtheater is an open-air theater that hosts frequent shows between June and August, so you won't want to miss them if you're visiting during the summer.

Several walking paths are present throughout the park, but you're free to traverse them by bike as well. Additionally, food services are available in the park including several bars and restaurants. Don't forget to check out the statues, one of which dates back to the mid-19th century.

Amstelpark is one of the more unique parks in the city, as it features its own winding labyrinth alongside a mini-golf course and a petting zoo. The labyrinth is a challenging hedge maze you can try, but if you're looking to simply relax, you'll find plenty of walking trails throughout.

Along the trails here, you'll find about 139 species of rhododendrons, which are woody plants from all around the world. Additionally, you'll find a Japanese Garden alongside an orangery and 2 galleries you can peruse.

Amsterdamse Bos is an English-style landscape park located in Amstelveen where you'll find a massive forest along with open neighborhoods, meadows and streams. The streams are particularly popular since they offer rowing and bathing opportunities that you can enjoy if you're looking for some aquatic adventure.

Additionally, you'll find a goat farm here called Geitenboerderij Riddammerhoeve, so consider visiting if you like small animals or have your kids along on vacation. This farm within the park also features a maze and a playground, so you and your little ones can find plenty of fun.

Beatrixpark is a relatively small and quiet park located just east of Station-Zuid WTC where you'll find landscaped paths, a playground and a pond. The park itself has a long history, first created in the 1930s, and you'll find the oldest parts of the park still offering that romantic English park atmosphere.

This is an especially good park to visit if you have children. They'll find plenty of fun by the pond and within the onsite playground. Plus, getting to the park is easy whether you take the streetcar or drive yourself.

Westerpark is a massive green area that was created from the remnants of defunct municipal gas installations that offer open spaces, sculptures and the iconic Westergasfabriek. When you visit the Westergasfabriek, you'll find an area undergoing transformation yet still hosting amenities like an art-house movie theater and cafes.

The old park offers a more traditional park experience with ponds and open green spaces. Several sculptures can be found in the park as well, including some seasonal ones. For example, the Bruidsjurk sculpture is a wedding dress that floats across the pond from April to October. You'll find it all in the neighborhood of the same name on the west side of town.

Rembrandtpark is an urban park consisting of 45 hectares of space complete with a petting zoo and an array of bird species frequenting its trees and skies. Birdwatchers will especially enjoy themselves here with 37 bird species on display like the common buzzard. Of course, you'll also find 6 bat species and 35 bee species.

This park is also popular with families traveling with children. You'll find several playgrounds within the park that your little ones will enjoy along with a petting zoo. You'll find it all within Overtoomse Veld a few miles west of downtown.

Frankendael Park is the last 17th-century country estate in the city and offers a romantic atmosphere complete with a period garden and a landscape garden. This park is also home to a marsh and a sunbathing area, so you can take in its natural beauty in quite a few different ways.

The middle of this park is home to the Frankendael House, which frequently hosts events, so be sure to check the local calendar to see what's on before your visit. Additionally, you'll find 2 restaurants within the park. It's all located south of downtown around Amsterdam-Oost.

Oosterpark is one of the oldest parks in Amsterdam dating back to the late 19th century offering verdant fields, a pond, walking paths and several monuments and art installations. This park is commonly known as the home of the National Slavery Monument, which was created to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the country back in 1863.You'll find other monuments here such as the Theo van Gogh memorial, but you can also embrace the natural features of the area. Several gray heron nests can be found here, so birdwatchers will especially enjoy their visit. You'll find this park southeast of downtown on the other side of the Lozingskanaal.

Sarphatipark is a small park in the city named after Samuel Sarphati where you can still find the 19th-century monument dedicated to him and his work. You'll find open green spaces here along with a few waterways, so it's a good destination for those looking to relax.

For most of the park's history, it was fairly barren, but the modern park offers playgrounds for kids to enjoy along with a gym. You'll also find several small bridges stretching over the waterways. You'll find the park just a few minutes south of downtown.

Erasmuspark is a unique urban park that's primarily situated within a circular waterway that lets visitors access the entire space via several bridges. You'll find plenty of walking paths here complemented by a variety of tree species like the common ash, black alder and field maple.

You'll find fun all year long at this park. The warmer months make it easy to take in its vibrant greenery and art installations, though the winter can have the waterway freeze over making it a premier destination for ice skating. You'll find the park a few miles northwest of downtown.