Parks and Gardens

Amsterdam offers a diverse range of green spaces beyond its famous canals. The historic Hortus Botanicus, dating to 1638, houses rare tropical flora, while Vondelpark serves as a cultural hub with sculptures and open-air performances. Westerpark occupies a repurposed industrial gas works site, and Amstelpark features a labyrinth and petting zoo. For wilder landscapes, the Lange Bretten and Geuzenbos offer nature reserves with grazing animals and unpaved paths, while Museum Square provides a large central lawn surrounded by the city's major art institutions.