Famous city park in the Netherlands
The Vondelpark means as much the people of Amsterdam as Central Park in Manhattan means to the people of New York City. It fullfills a social function in the city and attracts people of all ages and backgrounds. Local residents visit the Vondelpark on a daily bases, either alone or in company. Many citizens of Amsterdam cycle through the park every day on their way to work or they walk their dog. For tourists the Vondelpark is an attraction.
Origins of the Vondelpark
In 1865 a group of wealthy people in Amsterdam , under the quise of noblesse oblige (‘nobility required’) took the noble decision to create a park that had to be accessible for “ordinary people”. The founding fathers, led by the fabulously wealthy CP van Eghen, suggested that the landscaper J.D. Zocher had to design the park.
Anecdotes
By carriage and on horseback
Water Management
The Vondelpark was originally constructed on a marshy meadow with peat soil. Over the past centuries, the peat soil has settled by a meter While the land around the park is incremented by just a meter for homebuilding. Seperate pumping stations prevents the Vondelpark from being flooded when heavy rain sets in. This solution now leads to new, big problems around the park: wooden foundations on which houses are built, are above the water table and are beginning to rot…
Name Change
At the opening in 1865 the park got the name “New Park”. However, after the statue of our famous poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel was placed in 1867, the New Park was increasely reffered to as Vondel (s) park. In 1880 the New park officially changed its name to the Vondelpark.
Sanctuary
Romantic English Landscape style
The Vondelpak was designed according to the English landscape style. Characteristic for this is hilly grassland with parkland of trees, meandering trails, meandering streams, varied vegetation and surprising views. Symmetry missing in the English landscape garden. The architect is trying to imitate nature as beautiful as possible.
Biodiversity
The Vondelpark is home to a diverse flora and fauna. The park has about 150 species of trees,2,000 m2 of roses. The varied landscape also attracts many animals, including dozens of bird species(such as song thrush,woodpecker, jay, necklace parakeet), hedgehog, squirrel and frog. Some years ago a pair of storks were nesting in the city park. The water contains about 12 fish species. In addition, there is a beekeeping farm in the Vondelpark
Developments in the Vondelpark
Important milestones in the history of the Vondelpark:
A group of founding fathers founded a 'Society for Construction of a Driving and Naturepark' . Then large parts of pasture tracs were bought for the construction of the park.
The citypark gets a simple wooden Pavilion
The statue of our famous poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel is placed
Within the park opens a bandstand and a farm with cows. The cows, called 'Lakenvelders', had a wide large white band between their front and hind legs.
The entrance at the Stadshouderskade gets a large wrought iron fence, to give more allure to the park.
Bicycles are allowed in the park.
The Vondelpark gets a wooden restaurant in Indian style (burned down in 1936)
The Vondelpark gets a teahouse.
The park is completely shut to the public. During WWII due to the scarcity of fuel, the Amsterdam people rob wood from the park.
Opening hours
What's going on in the Vondelpark?
You can visit the Vondelpark by yourself or with your friends and family. Most people visit the park for the peace and quiet the nature brings. But there are also street musicians Here and there you’ll see an artwork.
On a summer day the park is especially a lovely spot to spend your free time. Wether you want relax in the form of sunbathing, picnics or walk or do activities like roller blading, play soccer, frisbee or play on the playground equipment, everything is possible. Barbecuing is not allowed any more though.
The park has several hospitality pavilions and toilet facilities.
On the website I Amsterdam your find some general information about the Vondelpark.
Address and Route
The Vondel park is 2km long and counts more than 20 entrances. The Vondelpark is within walking distance of three reputable museums on the ‘Museumplein’, Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum.
You can reach the Vondelpark by public transport. From Central Station Amsterdam you can choose between: From Amsterdam Central Station you can choose from:
- Tram 2 in the direction of ‘Nieuw Sloten’
- Tram 5 in the direction of ‘Amstelveen Binnenhof’, get off at stop ‘Van Baerlestraat’
- Bus 170 in the direction of ‘Uithoorn’, get off at stop ‘Amstelplein’
- Bus 172 in the direction of ‘Kudelstaart’, get off at stop ‘Hobbemastraat’ or ‘Museumplein’
By car you can park at Q-park garage beneath the ‘Museumplein’.
Combination Tips for a Day Out:
Combine your visit to the Vondelpark in Amsterdam with a visit to one of the three museums on the Museumplein. Or you can visit Park Clingendael in The Hague. If you are visiting in May or October you can also visit the Japanese Garden within Park Clingendael.
