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Parks and Gardens in the Netherlands
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Amstelpark
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Town: Amsterdam
Address: Europaboulevard
Phone: + 31 20 64 44 216
e-mail: parkwachterij@zuideramstel.amsterdam.n
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| Situated in the suburbs of Buitenveldert, southwest of Amsterdam, Amstelpark was constructed in 1972, specially for the occasion of the Floriade (a major Holland’s flower and gardening event held every decade). Many attractions of the Amstelpark date back from that period, including the rosaries, the Rhododendron path and the Labyrinth. Another of the park’s attractions is the Rieker windmill (1636). The park is a heaven for children with its nice playgrounds and a train tour around its premises in the summer. Art exhibitions are held at the Glazen Huis (The Glass House) and the Papillon Gallery. Amsterlpark features a modern sports centre equipped with everything from tennis and squash courts, fitness gyms to a miniature golf course. Amstelpark also has its Greenhouse where many plant’s species from the tropics and south Europe are exhibited.
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Amsterdam Canals
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Town: Amsterdam
Phone: + 31 20 62 39 886
e-mail: info@canal.nl
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| Amsterdam's more than 150 canals are not what one would call a typical park but they do make a lot of the city's charm. Apart from being a famous sight these water arteries feature important transport tracks and boats are organised to serve as buses. They are also a tourist attraction especially with the designated cruises along the canals that take the visitor on a tour around the whole Amsterdam. Lunch or just refreshment is also available on the boats that are equipped with restaurants and sometimes with small gardens on the roofs. Pedalling along the canal lanes is something that young and sporty people will like. Amsterdam’s canals are wide enough to provide space for both transportation and accommodation right on the water. There are also traditional on-ground hotels that are worth experiencing their special atmosphere. Moreover, it’s a very
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Amsterdam Hortus Botanicus
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Town: Amsterdam
Address: Plantage Middenlaan 2a
Phone: + 31 20 62 59 021
e-mail: info@dehortus.nl
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Price: 3 - 6 EUR
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Website: http://www.dehortus.nl
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| Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is just one of Netherlands’s botanical gardens, but it is also one of the oldest in the world and certainly the oldest one in Holland. Created in 1638 to be a garden for growing medical herbs, Hortus Botanicus has already accumulated more than 350 years of history. At the time the garden was established, herbs were more than respected in Amsterdam, as the city had just been through a plague epidemic. Moreover, the garden was used as a training ground for young pharmacists and physicians, not only as a plant bank. Over the course of time, especially in the 17th and 18th Centuries, the plant collection has been enriched with new species from arriving ships. These ships brought not only herbs and spices, but also exotic plants. Nowadays, the Hortus plays a huge role in the preservation of many plant species and serves as a gene bank for original plant types.
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Amsterdamse Bos
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Town: Amsterdam
Address: Amstelveense weg
Phone: + 31 20 54 56 150
e-mail: info.amsterdamsebos@dab.amsterdam.nl
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Website: http://www.amsterdamsebos.com/
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| Amsterdamse Bos is a huge woods between the Netherlands’ capital city of Amsterdam and the smaller city of Amstelveen. As a matter of fact, the very name Amsterdamse Bos can be translated as 'Amsterdam Woods'. However, this isn’t a natural woods but an artificial one, and its planning and construction was taken up as late as 1934 and finished in 1967 with the planting of the trees around the hill. Bosbaan Lake was also a product of man’s genius and dexterity.
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Artis Zoo
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Town: Amsterdam
Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38
Phone: + 31 20 52 33 400
e-mail: info@artis.nl
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Website: http://www.artis.nl/
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| The Artis Zoo is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, established in 1838 by a group of nature lovers. Artis Natura Magistra (Latin for 'Nature is the teacher of the arts') is the full name written on the three gates of the zoo, but the simpler colloquial Artis comes from the fact that the middle gate was usually open and visitors saw only this part of the name. Amsterdam’s zoo covers a humble area of 14 hectares, but houses no less than 700 animal species and reflects the biodiversity of both fauna and flora (there’s a specially designated Botanical section). What makes the Artis Zoo unique is its concept of bringing knowledge about planet Earth to the masses and make them respect it as a living creature. Its combination of botanical and zoological settings has brought Artis great numbers of visitors from the first years of its existence. Nowadays, the rich park features sites devoted to the Universe and our place in it, and geology as well.
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Beatrixpark
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Town: Amsterdam
Address: Diepenbrokstraat
Phone: + 31 20 66 20 227
e-mail: allegro@xs4all.nl
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Website: http://www.vriendenbeatrixpark.nl/
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| Named after Queen Beatrix, the present Queen of the Netherlands, this relatively small park is situated in the Southern Amstel quarter of Amsterdam. Beatrixpark is mostly known for its peace and quiet and the bigger part of its visitors are locals who visit it exactly for that reason- to run away from the busy Amsterdam. One of the most significant features of this small park is its cleanliness. The waters of the canals intersecting Beatrixpark are also clean enough for people to swim in them but apart from the canals there is also a special pool for the children. Speaking of pools and water, a hot spot of the park is certainly the small pond with water lilies and a beautiful fountain. Like a true “royal” park Beatrixpark boasts well-organised and tidy flower beds, grassy fields, alleys under tree-shades and a nicely-trimmed hedge garden. In 2005, a music festival took place in the park.
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Bijlmerpark
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Town: Amsterdam
e-mail: info@bijlmerparkmijnpark.nl
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Website: http://www.bijlmerparkmijnpark.nl
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| The Bijmerpark is situated in the south-western part of Amsterdam. The park was designed by renowned architects with an intention to make its layout, nature, and architecture as good as possible, and provide maximum harmony between the park and its neighbourhood. Ranked the best among urban parks of Amsterdam, the Bijmerpark offers innumerable activities and attractions, such as children playgrounds, small football ground and paths for cycling or strolling. Some parts of the park were arranged as the botanical garden and the fruit garden, and there is even a maze. The Bijmerpark makes a perfect place to organise a picnic or barbecue. In July and August, it hosts multicultural Kwakoe Summer Festival, including literature, theatre, music, food, sport and many other events. The park is fenced, but a number of gates make it accessible from all sides.
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De Oeverlanden (The Bank Lands)
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Town: Amsterdam
Address: De Oeverlanden
Schleperspad 1
Phone: + 31 20 61 71 915
e-mail: bestuur@oeverlanden.nl
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Website: http://www.oeverlanden.nl/
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| De Oeverlanden is a recreation area situated on the South of Amsterdam, just across Amsterdamse Bos (one of the biggest parks in the capital of Holland) with only the Nieuwe Meer (a huge lake) dividing them. Northern side of the Oeverlanden is generally divided into two parts, a nature area and a recreation area between the street Anderlechtlaan and the motorway of the Haarlemmermeer. Visiting the Oeverlanden surely won't be boring if one is fond of water sports, walking under the shade of trees and along the coastline of the lake or even participating in some of the activities of the Nature club founded there. Tuesday and Wednesday from 11am until 4pm are volunteer’s days so the entrance is free for all willing to help preserving Amsterdam’s nature.
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