If there's one thing to remember about
Amsterdam, it's that it's such a pleasant city. From the tulips that bloom every spring to riding your bikes all around, the Dutch capital always seems so idyllic. Now, doesn't that sound like the perfect place for a picnic? There are tons of amazing spots to have your picnic in Amsterdam. There's Amsterdamse Bos, Erasmuspark, Beatrixpark, and Flevopark, to name a few. What's great about them is that they're all so different in terms of vibe, atmosphere, and fun. But what they do have in common is the guarantee that you will have a pleasant picnic in any one of them!
Amsterdamse Bos
A massive park with a forest, a pool-like pond, and lush fields? If that's not the perfect spot for a picnic in Amsterdam, then what is? Amsterdamse Bos is one of the biggest and most popular parks in the Dutch capital. It has all sorts of amazing features, including a full-blown forest, cool wetlands, great grasslands, and more. It's also one of the
best family-friendly spots in Amsterdam; a great place for all ages. You can start with a nice picnic with a delicious lunch, then you can go on all sorts of adventures. In summer, you can even swim in the pond too!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Ceescamel
Beatrixpark
The royal park of Beatrixpark is a postcard-worthy green space that's just yearning for a family picnic. Even though it's near the Oud Zuid
neighborhood of Amsterdam, a central part of the city, the park itself is fairly quiet. It's peaceful enough that you can enjoy a relaxing picnic, perhaps even make a date out of it too. The park is still popular that it gets crowded at times too, but you can still easily snag a relatively quiet spot nonetheless. If you're lucky, you might just grab a scenic part of Beatrixpark with big trees to shade you.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Erasmuspark
What makes for a great picnic? Good food, right? And what's the perfect picnic food? Grilled meat! From burgers to steak, every picnic can feel like it's the
4th of July in the US. But now, you're in Amsterdam. The Dutch capital insn't all that familiar with the very American Backyard barbecue culture. Many of the city's park even ban grilling except for one, Erasmuspark! Here, you can grill as many meats as you want. If you snagged a nice spot away from the crowds, you can even grill some fish too. Don't worry! If you're far away, the smell won't bother the others.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Ceescamel
Flevopark
Escape to Flevopark when you want to enjoy a lovely and peaceful picnic in Amsterdam. Located in the eastern Indische Buurt part of the city, the park is one of the Dutch capital's hidden gems. It's not necessarily an unknown green space. Lots of locals and expats who have
moved to Amsterdam know about it. It's just that the location is fairly far from the city center that Flevopark doesn't get as crowded as other spots on this list. Fortunately, that's what makes it a great picnic spot. You can lay out your blanket on the grassy field, play sports with your loved ones, and just have a good time.
Source: Flickr.com/ Guilhem Vellut
Museumplein
If you want to check out some of the
best museums in Amsterdam, you'll find them in Museumkwartier. It's an entire district filled with galleries and cultural attractions, each more fascinating than the next. There's the iconic Rijksmuseum, the much-beloved Van Gogh Museum, and the Concertgebouw performance venue too. In the middle of all of them Museumplein, a green-filled public square that doubles as a park. It's a soccer field of a green space; a fairly vast expanse of well-cut grass. Doesn't that sound like the perfect place to have a picnic in Amsterdam?
Source: Flickr.com/ Sebastian Wilke
Oosterpark
Oosterpark is the archetypal city park in southeast Amsterdam. There are many grasslands, fun fountains, playgrounds for kids, and even a few interesting artworks. Famously, the park is home to the National Slavery Monument Surinamese artist Erwin de Vries, a striking memorial for the Dutch Trans-Atlantic slave trade. With so much to offer, is it any wonder that Oosterpark is another of Amsterdam's best picnic spots? The place has more than enough room for you to lay out your blanket and put out an amazing feast. The liveliness is also enough for you indulge in local and foreign cuisines,
Dutch pastries, and more as you enjoy your loved ones' company and relax.
Source: Flickr.com/ Guilhem Vellut
Rembrandtpark
Despite its name, Rembrandtpark isn't necessarily dedicated to the historic Dutch painter. It's undoubtedly named after him, sure, but the green space isn't some outdoor gallery that many people might be imagining. Ironically, Rembrandtpark may just be the greenest out of all the parks in Amsterdam. The park's grasslands and woodlands are so rich, you can smell the oxygen from a mile away. Enjoy the fresh air as you have your picnic here. You couldn't have picked a better place to spend time outdoors and get your fair share of nature in the middle of the bustling Dutch capital.
Source: Flickr.com/ Guilhem Vellut
Sarphatipark
Tucked away in the less-crowded De Pijp neighborhood of Amsterdam, Sarphatipark is a relatively quiet green space. It's by no means the biggest but it's massive enough to draw in the locals every time it's sunny outside. The college students and young professionals who live in the bohemian district love hanging out here. The lay down on the grass, typically around the Sarphatimonument, and just chill. You can join them and set up your own picnic too. It's a great place to get some sun, enjoy some snacks, and chat away with friends and family.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ SanderK
There's arguably no better place to have a picnic than in Amsterdam. The Dutch capital is a treasure trove of parks and gardens where you can set up the loveliest picnic, play games with friends, bond with family, and more!
