Dr. Jac. P. Thijssepark
Tucked between residential streets in Amstelveen, the Dr. Jac. P. Thijssepark is a heathland botanical garden that looks more like a piece of wild Dutch countryside than a manicured park. Named after the pioneering Dutch naturalist Jacobus Pieter Thijsse, it is one of three linked botanical gardens in Amstelveen and one of the most quietly beautiful green spaces in the entire metropolitan area.
A Living Nature Monument
The park was designed in the early twentieth century as a 'heemtuin' — a native-plant garden using only species indigenous to the Dutch landscape. Heather, moorland grasses, woodland flowers and wetland plants are arranged in naturalistic drifts that change colour dramatically through the seasons, from purple heather in late summer to snowdrops and wood anemones in early spring.
The three Amstelveen botanical parks — Thijssepark, De Braak and Dr. Koos Landwehrpark — together form a remarkable green corridor through the suburbs, and all three are free to enter. Thijssepark is the most atmospheric and the best starting point.
When and How to Visit
Spring and late summer are the peak seasons: April brings a carpet of bulb flowers and woodland blooms, while August and September set the heather alight in shades of violet and rose. The park is laced with narrow footpaths designed for slow, contemplative walking — cycling through it is not recommended as the trails are too narrow.
The park is best reached by bike from central Amstelveen in around ten minutes, or on foot from the Ouderkerkerlaan tram stop. Combine it with a cycle along the Amstel River towards the historic village of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel for a perfect half-day in the Dutch countryside.
Dr. Jac. P. Thijssepark on video
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