Beautiful green space in Amsterdam just a 1/2 block from our hotel, where people can get away from…read morecityscape to nature, on foot, on their bikes, with their dogs. We saw an extensive wooden play structure with rope bridges, ladders, high and low structures, at least 200 feet long! Our daughters would've loved playing on it! Walking paths everywhere, lots of bodies of water with ducks, grassy areas for picnicking and playing frisbee and flying kites!

Vondelpark is the kind of place that looks serene in postcards but, in reality, always feels like…read moreit's one minor incident away from becoming a nature documentary about urban survival. It's beautiful -- genuinely -- but it's also the busiest park in Amsterdam, which means you're sharing the paths with walkers, runners, cyclists, skaters, dogs, children, musicians, and at least three people who have decided today is the day they learn to ride a bike for the first time. Chaos, but charming chaos. The main paths are wide, but that doesn't stop near‑misses from happening every few minutes. You learn quickly that eye contact is optional and braking is a luxury. Still, there's something undeniably lively about it: the energy, the noise, the constant movement. It's the opposite of remote -- you're never alone, even when you wish you were. Find a quieter corner and the park shows its softer side. Lakes, trees, open lawns, and the occasional heron staring at you like it knows something you don't. It's peaceful, but with that faint undertone of "someone is definitely smoking something nearby." Classic Amsterdam ambiance. And unlike the more feral parks on the city's edges, Vondelpark keeps its surprises relatively tame. No cows. No sanctioned adult zones tucked into the woods. Just people, lots of them, all doing their best to coexist without turning the place into a full‑contact sport. If you're staying nearby or just passing through the Oud‑West or Museum Quarter, it's an easy place to wander, sit, decompress, or people‑watch. Just know that "peaceful" here means "peaceful... with witnesses."

Spacious, calm, and genuinely easy to enjoy, this park gives you room to breathe in a city that can…read morefeel tight around the edges. The paths are wide enough that walkers, skaters, and cyclists all coexist without turning every corner into a negotiation -- everyone just flows. It's one of the few places where you can take a relaxed stroll and not feel like you're in someone's way. Shade is easy to find under the trees, but there's also a gazebo if you prefer a more structured spot to sit. It's a nice little anchor point in the middle of the greenery, especially on warmer days. Food is never a problem here. With plenty of cafés and takeaways nearby, grabbing something and bringing it into the park feels almost expected. It's perfect for a casual picnic or a quiet solo lunch. If you're staying nearby or just wandering through Oost, Oosterpark is an easy, dependable place to reset -- peaceful without being dull, lively without being chaotic.

What an incredible park to have nearby for locals, and us visitors alike. We stayed 3 days at Hotel…read moreArena which opens right into the park. It was a gorgeous sight to start our day with each morning. My husband jogged around early in the day and enjoyed the peace. The kids loved the large grassy areas to frolick in, the ponds to bird watch, the playground by the hotel, the splashpad, skatepark, and especially the turfed soccer arena. It was also nice to do at multiple cafes to sit for a drink or app.

Probably the best park in Amsterdam! Vondelpark is huge, but hey, no BBQ, and always full of…read moretourists smoking weed. Westerpark is a bit further from the city center which means only the very health-conscious and serious parkies come here. The park has a ton of dining options, my favorite being the ice cream shop. There are a few amazing coffee spots, and let's not forget -- Tony's headquarters are here! You could walk in and sample all the flavors for free! There is an amazing jogging trail around the park, and the 'garden center' to the west is a hidden gem. It's private property, though, and only open for limited hours during the summer. Other than that, the famous Rollende Keukens is organized at this park, as is the milkshake festival. Countless conferences. There's even a tv studio. Oh, and Ketelhuis is an amazing spot for some Dutch or European movies. So much to say about this amazing spot.

If you are in this section of Amsterdam on a weekend during the summer you need to experience…read moreWesterpark. There is a lot to do here restaurants, picnic, jog, and people watch. The Het Schip (historic architecture) complex is a short 5 minute walk from the park.

Fantastic Park for little kids!…read more This park is great! We visited Amsterdam with our 7 year old son, and we saw a lot of history and culture. It was good to go to Amstelpark on a warm day and do all the little kid things. We biked to and through the park. We splashed in the big wadding pool, rode the small train through the park, tried to go to the petting zoo but it closes at 3pm (but we still saw some animals), my son played in the playgrounds, and rode on the little rides. He was so happy. (I would say 7 or 8 years old would be the oldest ages that would really enjoy this. Ideal for 3-6 year olds).

Absolutely beautiful park in the south corner of Amsterdam. Plenty of things to do for the kids as…read morewell as the adults. The zoo section is super fun alpacas, ponies, wombats and more. The year round jungle gym is great for the active ones too In the summer the kids park opens up where they have bumper cars, remote control boats, and lots of other fun things to play with.

Breath taking park, just as beautiful yet not nearly as busy as Vondelpark. It seems like this is…read morewere the locals go to avoid the touristy crowd. Peace and serenity at its best!

I just love that Amsterdam has so many green spaces! And some of them are rather large. This is one…read moreof those parks. There's a nice bike highway here that is pleasant to bike through to avoid the main roads, and really, when you can bike through a park instead of a road, what wouldn't you? There are some water features to sit next to and enjoy. Not sure about you, but I love being next to the water (good thing I live in Amsterdam, right?). It's quieter in this park, so you can easily find some nice picnic spots. Free outdoor exercise equipment are location throughout the park as well, if that's your scene. Personally, I just love being around all the green. There is easy access from the north, south, east, and west, so it's always easy to get in.

What do Amsterdam Parks mean to you? For me it's a place where I get inspired. Where I reflect on…read moremy experiences in Amsterdam and explore more of nature. It's a therapeutic excursion of self discovery in nature. I really enjoy retreating in the park with a blanket, book, and picnic basket on a sunny day. Parks were formed in Amsterdam to make sure that people in the city had access to some of the most beautiful greenery spaces on earth. Beatrixpark is a place for leisure and pleasure. It's a nice local park with beautiful lakes and open green spaces. The best way to get there is from Rai Station. Beatrixpark is a hidden treasure, so just walk towards the Rai Congress Centre and behind the canal you will spot the park.

Nice park in the South…read more I have been here several times for everything from running, a picnic and just a walk. It is a very nice park with something for all. Whether your walking your dog, playing with the kids, walking or running through, or just need to sit and chill by a lake or among the greenery. Easily accessed and plenty of room to enjoy the day.

We went for a birthday party. A good choice for smaller children but also teenagers love it. This…read moreis the best trampoline jumping place there is in Amsterdam. The personnel is really friendly and open to special requests. The food is healthy and delicious, so the over excited children don't get an extra sugar rush. Many activities possible. The jumping space is really cool with great lighting and fun music. It is seperate from the cafe, so you can enjoy your news paper and a yummy cappuccino in peace while the children are having fun. We loved it and will come back.

We had a team building event at Vrog recently and everyone loved it! There were about 15 of us,…read moreages 25-45, and we had an amazing time. We played trampoline dodgeball, learned some basic tricks on the trampoline, and then got to try out some flips with the air bag. The staff was also amazing! We set up the event through Peter and he coordinated everything perfectly. He brought out water for us while we were jumping and then after we finished jumping, there was a whole table of snacks and drinks. I would highly recommend Vrog for a team event or just jumping for fun! Some of us are going to sign up for the trampofit class on Tuesdays! I really had a great time and can't say thank you enough to the Vrog Team!

I went to the best yoga class I have been to in a while here. I had never been before and a friend…read moreinvited me along. I was expecting a small yoga studio (had only seen the teacher's yoga website) and instead found a whole center with different rooms for yoga, a small cafe, and I hear there is a little shop upstairs. The center is host to many many many many yoga classes/schools, meditation sessions, spirituality workshops, massage, qi cong, etc. Conveniently located right by Vondel park and hidden beneath the trees, you really feel like you are in a safe and warm place when you are there. The energy is quite nice all around. I plan to continue yoga there and will probably check out some of their other offerings soon.

De Roos can quickly be overlooked, but it would be a shame if you did. The location is amazing, a…read morelarge white villa at the corner of the PC Hoofdstraat and Vondelpark. Once the owners of the former Metz store lived here, which is now the Apple Store on Leidseplein. I am not sure who nowadays owns the building, but they are now a spiritual center. You can take workshops there, rent spaces or visit their bookshop. Now if all of this sounds a bit too esotheric for you, don't worry, as they also have an excellent cafeteria. On sunny days you can sit on the terrace, which is nice, cool and quiet. By far the best place in the often overcrowded and noisy Vondelpark. Their prices are quite reasonable and their soup and sanwiches are excellent, from the nearby Vlaamsch Broodhuys. You can also buy individual pieces of fruit, fresh salads and organic food. A hidden gem!