Top 3 Amsterdam city parks to visit this fall
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
That was it, unfortunately. The summer holiday period is over and the streets of Amsterdam are filling up with traffic again. A bit more every day. It’s time to head back to business for most of us.
It’s that time of the year where we have to say goodbye to the summer and we have to welcome autumn. The average September month has the mild weather of a late summer and a temperature of approximately 14 degrees which makes it one of the most beautiful seasons of the year.
I hear you thinking…. 14 degrees…. a bit of rain? That’s a walk in the park, I just spent the 2011 summer in Amsterdam! I have seen nothing but rain.
But let me tell you, we have a beautiful autumn ahead of us. Therefore here are three of my favorite parks to visit during the fall. A perfect autumn combination with a short stay in Amsterdam.
Vondelpark
Located in the heart of the city of Amsterdam this is the park you can’t miss. Absolutely stunning during the fall, with its’ tree leaves yellow, reddish, green and brown simultaneously.
The visitors of the park seem to romantically match the color pallet wearing wind and rain jackets in a variety of bright colors.
Wander through the park for hours and admire what nature in the heart of Amsterdam has to offer.
For families with kids I have a tiny suggestion for a fun activity that’ll entertain them for hours. Have the kids gather chestnuts, the park ground is littered with them. Bring plastic bags to transport the chestnuts back home.
Buy small wooden skewers, pointed at both sides, in advance.
Once you come home, empty the bags of chestnuts and have the kids build small works of art with the chestnuts, 
connecting them to other chestnuts using the skewers.
When visiting the Vondelpark with friends, I tend to enjoy a short stop at the Groot Melkhuis. Have a warm cup of tea or coffee, together with a muffin or a piece of almond cake, is guaranteed to get rid of any cold shivers caused by the wind or rain.
Amsterdamse bos (Amsterdam forest)
The Amsterdamse Bos is the forest for residents of Amsterdam and people from the region. At about 1000 hectares it’s one of the largest city parks in Europe. Enter from the Van Nijenrodeweg, where you can also find the visitor centre. If you get lucky you might see a bit of the small wildlife in the park like rabbits or birds of prey. There are 6 marked routes for walkers and 3 runner routes.
Hortus Botanicus.
A different style for my third pick. The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is one of the oldest botanic gardens in the world. It was founded by the City Council in 1638, in times when herbs served as the basis of medicines. With more than 4000 plant species growing in the garden and greenhouses this is a work of art. Located in the Plantage district in the city center of Amsterdam you’ll find peace and quiet behind the 300-year-old gates of the botanic garden.
I hope you'll enjoy visiting one or more of these parks.
With warm regards,
Carine van der Aa
Business Development
Htel Serviced Apartments
