Nature and active in De Plantage

Wildlife Walk

This family-friendly, Wildlife-themed walking route takes visitors on a 50-minute adventure from central Amsterdam through De Plantage and towards Flevopark in Oost. Discover botanical gardens, zoo enclosures and even a lakeside distillery, in a blend of natural beauty with the lively characters of the neighbourhoods.

ARTIS

The sprawling city zoo of ARTIS offers visitors encounters with flamingos, lemurs and penguins and a variety of rare plant species. The grounds form a vast botanical garden filled with unusual shrubs, plants, and trees – some even older than the zoo itself.

Hortus Botanicus

Founded in 1638, Hortus Botanicus is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. The garden is home to more than 6000 tree and plant species. In addition to a gorgeous cafe, outdoor gardens, and a ‘hothouse’ that emulates three different tropical environments, hundreds of majestic butterflies can be found frolicking inside the Butterfly Greenhouse. Learn about its rich history, sustainability and much more during a visit to this tropical paradise.

Dignita Hoftuin

Beside the immense H'ART Museum is a secret courtyard garden filled with formal flower beds and lush green lawns. This green gem offers plentiful opportunities to relax on the grass, walk amongst the blooms, and take a peek at the vegetable garden. The sunny terrace at Dignita—a cafe with a socially conscious outlook—is an excellent hidden spot to take a brunch or coffee break. The cake selection comes highly recommended!

J.W. van Overloopplantsoen

There’s a small but extremely pleasant stretch of greenery along the canal in De Plantage known as the J.W. van Overloopplantsoen. It's an ideal spot for picnicking, watching the boats pass, and visitors popping into the Hortus greenhouses next door. You’ll find diverse groups of people using this space, including locals practising tai chi or couples dangling their feet into the water.

Wertheim Park

Built in 1812, Wertheim Park was a gift from Napoleon, making it the oldest park in Amsterdam. The park is named after a Jewish banker and philanthropist whose virtues are commemorated on the central fountain. The lush green lawns provide an oasis of peace and tranquillity, overlooked by the important monument 'Never Again Auschwitz' by Jan Wolkers.