Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Miss
Early History
The park is named after the Shakespeare of the Netherlands, poet and playwright Joost
van den Vondel (1587-1679). The English-style grounds were laid out on marshland - a
typically Dutch feat of drainage and landscaping - in the 1860s and '70s. If it feels like a
picture-perfect playground for the bourgeoisie, that's because city planners designed it as
such. They hoped it would soften the loss of the Plantage, the east-side park that became
residential around this time.
Hippie History
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Dutch authorities turned the park into a temporary
open-air dormitory for the droves of hippies who descended on Amsterdam. The sleeping
bags are long gone, but remnants of the era live on in the squats that fringe the park, such
as OT301 and OCCII, now both legalised into underground cultural centres.
The Grounds
The park's 120 acres roll out ponds, lawns, gardens and winding paths that encourage vis-
itors to get out and explore. While more than 10 million people per year converge on the
green space, it never feels too crowded to enjoy.
Highlights
Follow the signs to the pretty rose garden in the middle of the park. Pablo Picasso's sculp-
ture
The Fish
dots the landscape nearby. Neon-green parrots flit through the trees; once
pets, they were released into the wild decades ago. And don't forget the cafes, teahouse
and outdoor theater in the park.
Top Tips
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The main entrance is at the top (northeast) of the park on Stadhouderskade. As you walk southwest, the path
splits off to the left or right and makes a complete circle in either direction.
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Telltale iron gates mark several other entrances around the perimeter.
