The Vondelpark is Amsterdam's most famous park. It was designed and built around the year 1850, when the lands outside of the original inner city were being exploited and inhabited. It stretches all the way from the Leidseplein (the Casino) to the Amstelveenseweg (the road to Amstelveen). The park literally cuts the southern part of the city in two, and is bordered by the Overtoom in the North and the Willemsparkweg in the South.

The park is very popular with tourists who can enjoy the quit in the city, for people with little children (many playgrounds and animals), joggers, cyclists and skeelers. 

The Vondelpark was named after the great Dutch writer and poet Johannes van den Vondel. Close to the Vondelpark we find the Vondelstraat (-street) and the Vondelkerk (-church), the latter now closed and used for small modern offices. 

On the Overtoom side one can find the Film museum, where you can watch 'the other' movies and can enjoy a nice breakfast in summer, outside. In the high season the Music Theater gives many performances of local and international artists, free of charge! This gives the park it's special atmosphere. The well known Concertgebouworkest gives every year an 'open air' concert in the park, which attracts hundreds of people. 

The park also has it's problems. Because of the sloppy ground the whole park is 'sinking' every year. This is why one has to go down into the park. The municipality has plans to renovate the park soon. Oh, if you visit the park, don't be surprised by the many tropical birds -like grasshoppers and parrots- who live freely in the park!!

Here you can find some thumbnails to high resolution pictures of the park and it's surroundings.  Since the pictures are HIGHRES you should be patient to give the picture a chance to load after you click on the thumbnail.

Enjoy!!!!