park
Westerpark
A laid-back green expanse in Amsterdam-West wrapped around the Westergas culture complex — lawns, water, festivals, bars and an arthouse cinema.
Photo: İcabi Akçaoğlu / Google
Westerpark blends a relaxed green park with the Westergasfabriek, a former gasworks turned cultural hub. Locals come to picnic, run and drink by the water, while the old industrial buildings fill with events, food and markets.
The park
Curving lawns, ponds, playgrounds and a children's water-play stream make this one of the west side's favourite open spaces. It's free, dog-friendly and open day and night, and rarely feels touristy.
Westergas
The old gasworks site is now a cluster of bars, restaurants and venues — among them Pacific Parc, the Troost brewery and the Het Ketelhuis arthouse cinema — plus regular festivals and weekend markets such as the Sunday Market and Pure Markt.
Getting there
It sits just west of the Haarlemmerbuurt, about 15 minutes from Centraal by tram or a pleasant walk through the Jordaan and out past the Haarlemmerpoort.
What to expect
Big lawns and ponds for picnicking and relaxing
The Westergas venues for food, drink and an arthouse cinema
Festivals and weekend markets in the old gasworks buildings
A children's water-play stream in summer
Tips from locals
Explore the Westergasfabriek alongside the green park — a former gasworks now full of cafés, clubs and galleries.
Catch an art-house film at Het Ketelhuis or an immersive show at Fabrique des Lumières in the old gasholder.
In summer, the wading pools and lawns fill up with families; bring a picnic.
There's a city farm with animals in the park — nice for kids.
It's an easy walk or short tram ride northwest of the Jordaan.
Did you know?
The original park opened in 1891 as green space for the surrounding working-class neighbourhoods.
Next door stood the Westergasfabriek, once the largest coal-gasworks in the Netherlands, which closed in 1967.
The contaminated gasworks site took years to clean up before becoming a park.
American landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson merged the old park and the gasworks into today's layout, completed in 2003.
Twenty-two of the old industrial buildings are listed monuments and now host culture and events.
FAQ
- Is Westerpark free to visit?
- Yes. The park is a free public space, open day and night. Some events and venues in the Westergas complex charge separately.
- What is Westergas?
- The Westergasfabriek (Westergas) is a former gasworks beside the park, now a cultural complex of bars, restaurants, a cinema and event spaces.
- How do I get to Westerpark?
- It's in Amsterdam-West, just beyond the Haarlemmerbuurt — about 15 minutes from Centraal by tram or on foot through the Jordaan.
Westerpark
Pazzanistraat 41, 1014 DB, Amsterdam