Explore Amsterdam's parks

Amsterdam has several large parks where you can take a walk, have a picnic or simply sit among trees and plants. Vondelpark is the city’s best-known park, but it can be busy. While Westerpark, Oosterpark and Amstelpark also offer great green spaces to explore and tend to be more quiet. The Vliegenbos in Amsterdam-Noord is a local secret that allows you to get lost in the woods for a moment.

For a more extensive nature experience, head further outside the city centre to Amsterdamse Bos, a large green area with woods, meadows, lakes for a canoe trip and lots of walking trails.

Where can I go to escape the crowds?

If you are looking for a quieter place in Amsterdam, green spaces can be a good place to start. Parks, botanical gardens and less busy neighbourhoods offer opportunities to slow down and take a break from the busiest tourist areas.

The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is particularly easy to combine with sightseeing because it is located close to other cultural attractions in central Amsterdam. Behind the 400 years old gate, this botanic garden offers a local oasis which is perfect for your green city retreat.

If you are secure on a bike, we would suggest to head out of the city along the Amstel river towards Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, or go up north and take the longer Waterland Biking Route towards Broek in Waterland. It allows you to explore the Dutch countryside and typical country villages.

Discover Amsterdam's botanical garden

For anyone interested in plants, a botanical garden offers a different way to experience nature in the city.

The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Founded in 1638, it is home to more than 4,000 plant species from around the globe, spread across historic outdoor gardens and inside monumental greenhouses.

Instead of simply walking through a park, you can discover plants from very different parts of the world in one place – from tropical palms and colourful butterflies to desert plants and rare species. A botanical gardens shows its carefully maintained plant collection with extensive botanical and historical information. It allows the visitor to learn more about plant biology, but also evolution, ecosystems, and conservation. Giving you an extra layer to your nature experience.

Nature in Amsterdam throughout the year

One of the advantages of exploring Amsterdam’s green spaces is that they change with the seasons.Spring brings flowers and fresh growth, summer fills the parks and gardens with blossoms and greenery, autumn adds colour to the trees, and winter reveals the structure of gardens and landscapes.

At the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, the greenhouses offer an additional way to experience nature throughout the year. Even in the colder months, you can step inside a warm tropical environment and discover plants from around the world.