Vondelpark

Vondelpark - the most important information

The Vondelpark is a public urban park of 47 hectares in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is part of the borough of Amsterdam-Zuid and situated west of the Leidseplein and the Museumplein. The park was opened in 1865 and originally named Nieuwe Park, but later renamed Vondelpark, after the 17th-century playwright and poet Joost van den Vondel. The park has around 10 million visitors annually. Within the park are an open-air theatre, a playground, and several food service facilities.

History of Vondelpark

In 1864 a group of citizens led by Christiaan Pieter van Eeghen established the Association for the Construction of a Park for Riding and Walking. They bought several hectares of grassland and marshes at the rim of the city of Amsterdam, in order to create the new park. They assigned its design to the architect Jan David Zocher, and in 1865 "The New Park was opened free for members of the association and with other citizens paying an entrance fee. The last part of the park was designed by Louis Paul Zocher, Jan David Zocher's son, and was realized from 1875 to 1877. The park then arrived at its current size of 47 hectares. In 1953 the association donated the park to the city of Amsterdam because it was too expensive for them to preserve it. Consequently, the city renovated the park from 1999 to 2010. The purpose was to beautify the park and lessen the need for maintenance.

What to see in Vondelpark?

As being said this park is huge. Here you can check out everything you need and you can experience numerous things. Everyone can find something for him here. Now we are going to just give you some brief insight into what you can see, but we promise you that it will be more special if you see it for yourself:

Nature in Vondelpark: The park exists now for almost 150 years has many old plane trees, horse chestnut, Dutch red chestnut, catalpas, and different sorts of birch trees. Numerous bushes and herbs complete the park’s landscape.
Sculptures in Vondelpark: The imposing 3 meters high bronze monument of the Dutch poet Vondel from 1867, an abstract concrete ‘Fish’ from 1965 is by Pablo Picasso, and a bronze representing Caribbean woman called ‘Mama Baranka’ from 1985.
Vondelpark open-air theatre: Theatre, dance performance, and music is played during June, July and August. The open-air theater takes place in Vondelpark, and the entrance is free.

How to get to Vondelpark?

Vondelpark is a great and large park. And you can visit it in a typical Dutch way: by bike! It is very easy to get to this park no matter where are you situated in Amsterdam. The following transit lines have routes that pass near Vondelpark:

via Bus: lines 305, 397, 41, 65
via Train: IC and SPR
via Metro: line 52
via Light Rail: 1, 12, 3 and 5

Because this park is very well connected with every single corner of Amsterdam it shouldn’t be difficult to find it. Nevertheless, we are suggesting that you check out the Moovit official website before heading to arrange your personal route and find the easiest and quickest way to this site.

Fun facts about Vondelpark

This park is very interesting, especially for the tourists. It has a perfect Dutch cultural impact. If you want to see and experience the perfect adventure in Amsterdam this is the perfect place for you. Here are some facts that you could find interesting:

While you might not expect it, you might run into a flock of parakeets as you journey through Amsterdam. An estimated 4000 of the green-feathered parrots live in Vondelpark. One urban legend states that a truck carrying exotic birds overturned, allowing its cargo to escape. Others instead believe that an old woman set a pair of mating parakeets free. Whatever the truth is, the birds’ existence is both bizarre and fitting.
Starting in September 2008, adults were legally allowed to have sex in the park, as long as they "[took] their garbage with them afterward and never [had] intercourse near the playground. Sexual activities were to be limited to the evening hours and night.", in the words of current Amsterdam Alderman Paul Van Grieken.
In 2009 the world’s record biggest picnic recognized by The Guinness Book of Records with 433 persons participating, took place in the park.
Since 2011 on the evening of All Soul's Day people gather and float many small "remembrance" boats with a lighted candle in the big pond to remember those who have died in the last year(s).
The park is referenced in Acda en De Munnik's song "Vondelpark vannacht" from the album Acda en De Munnik (1997), in Omar Rodríguez-López's song "Vondelpark bij nacht" from the album Omar Rodriguez (2005) and in John Craigie's song "Vondelpark" from the album Working On My Farewell (2015). The 1990s' 2009 album 'Kicks' opens with a track entitled "Vondelpark", which is a tour diary from one of the band's trips to the Netherlands. The English dream pop band Vondelpark took their name from the park.