Oosterpark

Laid out in 1891 in the English landscape style, the Oosterpark was the first large park the city built for its citizens. Today it is the green heart of multicultural Amsterdam-Oost.

The park

Curving paths, ponds dotted with herons and broad lawns make it a relaxed, local place to walk or picnic. On its edge stands the Tropenmuseum, in a grand old building.

Monuments

The Oosterpark holds the National Monument of the Dutch Slavery Past and De Schreeuw, a memorial to the murdered filmmaker Theo van Gogh. Every 1 July it hosts Keti Koti, the festival commemorating the abolition of slavery.

Getting there

A short tram ride east of the centre, next to the Dappermarkt street market and an easy walk from De Pijp.

Landscape architect Leonard Springer designed Oosterpark, and its historic bandstand adds another layer to the setting. Rather than treating the park as a checklist of sights, leave time to explore the smaller details: the changing views beneath mature trees, the bridges and the activity around the water. There are play areas for children, too, so a visit can work as a family pause between exploring the surrounding neighbourhoods rather than a separate sightseeing excursion.

For a longer outing, explore the streets of the Dapperbuurt and continue towards the shops and cafés along Javastraat in the Indische Buurt. This takes you beyond the park into the everyday life of Oost, with plenty of opportunities to stop for something to eat. If you prefer an indoor cultural stop, the museum mentioned above is now called Wereldmuseum Amsterdam; its exhibitions explore cultures and the ways people around the world are connected.