The 5 Most Beautiful Parks and Gardens in Amsterdam

1. Vondelpark: a breath of fresh air in the heart of the city
2. Begijnhof: a walk through history
3. Hortus Botanicus: an exotic garden
4. Amstelpark: a stroll along the riverbank
5. ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo: an astounding array of flora and fauna

>> Your train tickets to Amsterdam

You simply must take a walk through Vondelpark, the city’s largest and most popular park. When the weather is fine, it’s a perfect place for a bike ride, a run or even a picnic by the lake.

If you know where to look, you can also find Picasso’s famous statue The Fish here. A free concert series is organized in the park Wednesdays through Sundays from June through August.

>> Continue your stroll along the canals of Amsterdam

Next, head to the Begijnhof (Béguinage), a veritable haven of peace smack dab in the middle of the city. This 14th-century enclosed courtyard is surrounded by residential buildings and filled with plants. 

When the dominant Calvinist religion forbade the existence of other religions, this space was occupied by nuns and clandestine Catholic churches. The ambiance here is that of a small village where time stands still.

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At the botanical garden of Hortus Botanicus, you can find thousands of plants growing in a series of greenhouses with different climates ranging from tropical rainforest to desert. 

Established in 1638, it is one of the oldest in Amsterdam, and a wide variety of plants have been cultivated here for research and medicinal purposes over the centuries. It is even the site of the first coffee grown in Europe!

Amstelpark, near the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre, is a vast park that follows the Amstel river. Here you will find immaculate gardens, children’s attractions and places to eat.

It’s a perfect place to go for a run or to spend time with your family!

Travelling as a family? ARTIS Zoo is perfect for visiting with kids. It is home to more than 550 species of animals and 700 varieties of plants. 

Your children will beenthralled by the aquarium, gardens, planetarium, zoological museum and even an exhibit that transports them into the microscopic world.