I spent the morning walking in the Westerpark.

There’s something quite special about the Westerpark. It’s just so unpretentious. I like its unfussy appeal; it gives off none of the ‘look-at-me’ vibes of the Vondelpark. On the contrary, Westerpark’s approach seems to be ‘I’m not too fancy, you won’t find any trendy corners here, but you can sit down, admire the scenery, and walk about without much fuss’.

The Vondelpark strikes me as a park for Amsterdam’s visitors, whereas Westerpark is a refuge for Amsterdam’s dwellers. Quite frankly, it looks like someone’s back garden, blown up to 1,000 times its size. It almost feels like you’re out there with your next-door neighbours.

I’m quite fond of the Westerpark, but it wasn’t always so. Once upon a time, I found it a tad shabby, but now I welcome its irreverent appeal, its ‘take-me as-I-am’ nonchalance. That is a huge part of its appeal for me.

Westerpark in fine weather is one of Amsterdam’s greatest joys. Looking forward to many more walks.