Parks and the outdoors in Amsterdam

28 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Amsterdam.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

SeeBinnenstad
Begijnhof
The Begijnhof is a late medieval enclosed courtyard with the houses of beguines (Roman Catholic women living in a semi-religious community). It is a very picturesque group of historic buildings, mostly private dwellings. House number 34 is the oldest home in Amsterdam. The courtyard also has a Reformed Church and a hidden Catholic chapel. Surprisingly, it feels like a serene oasis as it is surrounded by the chaotic Kalverstraat and Spui. Entry to the courtyard and surrounding gardens is free, but be careful not to disturb the local community still living here.
SeeZuidoost
Bijlmermuseum
Protected monument to the original 1960s urban vision of the modernist Bijlmermeer expansion of Amsterdam. It consists of the high-rise flats Gooioord, Groeneveen, Grubbehoeve, Kikkenstein, Kleiburg and Kruitberg, the brutalist metro viaduct running between them and the parks they are all located in. You can get a tour of parts of the Grubbehoeve flat by appointment, but if the weather's good just grab supplies for a picnic at the Ganzenhoef or Kraainest shopping centers and walk underneath the metro line.
By appointment
EatPlantage
Cafe Kadijk
Cafe Kadijk is a small Indonesian restaurant that offers good food at a decent price. The restaurant has a coffee shop vibe and is located in a "trendy" area. Just outside Amsterdam's city centre, it is a bit of a walk away from the more touristy areas of the city. Patio dining and indoor dining are both available.
Main dishes range between €17 and €22
EatNoord
Café-restaurant Stork
A fish and seafood restaurant in an old factory on the banks of the river.
SeeOost
Frankendael
Frankendael is a house built in 1733 in Watergraafsmeer. The house is surrounded by a pleasant park. Take tram 9, get off at the stop "Hugo de Vrieslaan".
DoZuidoost
Gaasperpark
Recreational area and nature reserve with a lake and water-sports centre. The centre offers facilities for canoeing, swimming, rowing, sailing and a surfing school. Explore the park (5 km around the lake) by foot, bicycle or horseback. On the edge of the park is the Gaasper Camping campsite.
SeePlantage
Hortus Botanicus
The Amsterdam Botanical Gardens — 'Hortus' as they are called by locals — used to be the Botanic Garden of the University of Amsterdam. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Nowadays it is an independent organisation. The collection of the garden consists of more than 6,000 species. The garden regularly holds extra exhibitions and music performances.
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrowAdult €9.75; seniors and children €5.50
SeeCanal District
Magere Brug
The Magere Brug, literally "Skinny Bridge", is a bridge that spans the Amstel River and connects the Kerkstraat with the Nieuwe Kerkstraat. It's an iconic bridge that consists of nine arches and a drawbridge that is still operated by hand. The current bridge is made of white-painted wood, but it has been rebuilt several times and historically it has also been in concrete. The first bridge here was built in 1691, but the current one dates from 1934. It is one of the most photographed bridges in Amsterdam, especially at night because of the 1200 tiny lights that make it look like a picture-perfect postcard.
SeeCanal District
Museum Van Loon
17th century house with interior restored with furnishings to how it looked in the 18th century. Also interesting to see a garden you would not normally see from the streets.
SeeZuid
Museumplein
Not exactly a park, but a large grassed open space. Around its edges are the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Concertgebouw. On a sunny summer day, many locals chill on the grass lawn on top of the Albert Heijn supermarket.
SeePlantage
Natura Artis Magistra Zoo
Artis
An entry ticket for Artis also provides admission to the Planetarium, the Aquarium and the Zoological Museum. Artis is also a botanical garden, with plants and trees gathered from all over the world, just like the animal species. Don't miss the Artis ZOOmeravonden.
Youth (3 to 9 years) €18, adult (10 to 64 years) €21.50, seniors (65 +) €17.50
SeeOost
Oosterpark
Close to Plantage, this park holds several multicultural festivals throughout the year.
EatNoord
Pllek
A bar and restaurant in an old industrial area, by the river.
DoZuid
Rialto
For all art-house cinema lovers. All films are shown in their original language with Dutch subtitles. They have late-night and classic showings too. Just a short walk from the Albert Cuyp Market/Heineken Brouwerij, in the nice non-touristy neighborhood De Pijp.
M–Th EUR 9, F–Su EUR 10
SeeZuid
Rijksmuseum
The largest and most prestigious museum for art and history in the Netherlands: works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and other Dutch masters. Its garden has a curious collection of architecture and has free entrance during museum opening times. Recommend getting there early to avoid long queues and crowds, then head first for the second floor to see the Rembrandt classics and others such as Avercamp's Winter Landscape with Skaters.
09:00–17:00 dailyEUR 25 adults, EUR 12.50 European Youth Card, children free, no student discounts
EatOost
Silk Road Restaurant
Eastern and Western fusion meals with both à la carte and (on highly occupied days only) a live cooking theme buffet. The restaurant has a view of the river IJ. Open 7 days per week for lunch and dinner.
€25-40
EatZuid
Tjin's Gelderlandplein
Tijn's Exotische Broodjes
Tasty, great value Surinamese take-out. Sandwiches. Located a short walk from the Zuidas area hotels. A few tables are also available to eat in.
Mon–Fri 11:30–19:30, Sat 11:30–19:00, Sun 13:00–19:00
DoBinnenstad
Torture Museum
You'd think one museum about torture would be enough, but no, not in Amsterdam. However, this was the first torture museum in the city centre, and is at least somewhat more authentic than the copycat. The museum depicts the history of different torturous techniques used over the centuries. The lighting is bad, the corridors are small and the price an absolute rip-off. You can walk through it in 15-30 minutes.
Open now · closes 11 pm€7
SeeZuid
Vondelpark
The only large park that is close to the Binnenstad, and definitely the most popular one. Especially in the summer, it is lively and crowded, many locals sit on the grass and enjoy a cold beer or wine. It's a lovely place to just hang out, sit in the sun and meet the locals. Open-air theaters are running in the summer on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays.
SeePlantage
Wertheimpark
A small park with a World War II memorial located at one of the nicest canals in Amsterdam.
SeeWest
Westerpark
A park at the western edge of the centre, with cultural activities in a former gas factory (Westergasfabriek). Access from Haarlemmerweg.
Do Not mapped
Adam's Boats
Rent a boat without the need for a licence. The Amstel river can be reached within 2 minutes from the hire place.
Do Not mapped
Boats4rent Boat Rental
Boats4rent is a boat rental where you can rent a boat without a skipper. With a three or four hour rental you can make a private trip on the Amsterdam canals and the Amstel river.
open every day from March to Octoberbest rates in Amsterdam
Do Not mapped
Open Garden Days
Opentuinendagen
Normally you can see only the front of the canal houses, but during the Open Garden Days you get to go past the entrance and see the green world behind them, often bigger than you would have expected. You can buy one ticket that gives you entry to all participating gardens, and there is a special canal boat to take you from one location to another.
DoZuidoost Not mapped
Skateboarding
There are a plethora of spots to go skateboarding in Amsterdam Zuidoost. The biggest attraction is the new skatepark in Bijlmer Park with two large bowls.
DrinkZuid
't Blauwe Theehuis
Basic bar and beer garden
DrinkZuid
De Roos
Quite tea house with a small garden.
SeeOost
Diemerpark
This is a large park, a little like a dune park.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Amsterdam (CC BY-SA 4.0).