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Read articleThe best picnic spots in Amsterdam are Vondelpark, Westerpark, Sarphatipark, Oosterpark, and the Amsterdamse Bos — but in this city, where you sit, what you bring, and whether you’re allowed to fire up a BBQ matters far more than which park you pick. I’ve lived in Amsterdam for over two years, and most picnic guides just list park names. This one tells you the exact lawn to aim for, the local deli to grab your sandwiches from, and which parks will fine you for grilling.
Here’s the quick version before we get into the details: for a central, social picnic go to Vondelpark (but walk away from the Leidseplein entrance). For a BBQ, head to Westerpark or Oosterpark, which have legal grilling zones. For a quiet, local feel, the De Pijp locals’ favorite is Sarphatipark. And if you want a proper day out with swimming and forest trails, nothing beats the Amsterdamse Bos.
Amsterdam has more usable green space than almost any city its size, and each park has a distinct personality. Below, every spot includes the exact area to set up, where to buy supplies nearby, and whether BBQs are allowed — so you can plan a zero-guesswork picnic. (Short on time? The first five are the ones I send friends to.)
Best for: a central, lively picnic close to the museums. Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s most famous park and the easiest to reach, but it’s also the most crowded — so the trick is knowing where to walk.
Where to sit: Don’t stop at the busy Leidseplein entrance — it’s packed and shadeless by noon. Walk 10 minutes deeper toward Picasso’s abstract concrete Fish sculpture for quieter lawns, or aim for the rose garden in the northwest (the roses peak from mid-May to late June). Families should head to the lawns by Het Groot Melkhuis, a chalet-style café with a playground and sandpit.
What to buy: Skip the overpriced park kiosks. Renzo’s Delicatessen on Van Baerlestraat (a 5-minute walk from the south entrance) has built Italian sandwiches for nearly 40 years — the parma ham and gorgonzola are picnic gold. For a faster, cheaper stop, the Albert Heijn on Van Baerlestraat near the Van Gogh Museum has pre-made rolls and drinks.
Can you BBQ? No. Barbecuing is banned in Vondelpark — bring a cold spread instead.
Best for: a BBQ with a creative, social crowd. Westerpark blends open lawns with the buzzing Westergas culture complex, so you get nature plus food festivals, markets, and cultural events on weekends.
Where to sit: The grassy areas west of the Westergas buildings, near the water, are the sweet spot — close enough to grab a drink, far enough to spread out. It’s one of the few parks with legal, designated BBQ zones, so it fills up fast on sunny weekends; arrive before 1 PM to claim a patch.
What to buy: De Bakkerswinkel near Westergas does excellent bread and quiche, and the on-site Marqt/Albert Heijn covers drinks and snacks. For a market run, the Westerstraat market (Monday mornings) is a short walk east.
Can you BBQ? Yes — Westerpark has designated barbecue areas with fixed grills. Keep to the marked zones.
Best for: the most “local” picnic in the city. Sarphatipark is small but beloved, tucked into the De Pijp district with a neighborhood feel you won’t get in Vondelpark.
Where to sit: The shaded lawns around the central pond, under the tall trees, are ideal on a hot day. It’s compact, so it’s perfect for a spontaneous, low-key picnic rather than a big group sprawl.
What to buy: You’re two minutes from the legendary Albert Cuyp Market — grab fresh fruit, cheese, stroopwafels, and Dutch street food to build your spread on the way in.
Can you BBQ? No — treat it as a cold-picnic park.
Best for: a relaxed, culturally rich picnic in East Amsterdam with the option to grill. Oosterpark has open lawns, ponds, public artworks, and a genuinely local, diverse crowd.
Where to sit: The open lawns near the Hotel Arena side catch the afternoon sun, while the spots near the pond stay cooler. There’s an adventure playground for kids and plenty of photogenic corners.
Can you BBQ? Yes — Oosterpark is one of the Amsterdam parks where barbecuing is permitted in the designated areas.
Best for: a full day out with swimming, BBQ, and forest trails. Het Amsterdamse Bos is a forest three times the size of New York’s Central Park, on the city’s southern edge, with woodlands, meadows, and lakes.
Where to sit: The Grote Speelweide (Great Lawn) and the banks of the Bosbaan rowing lake are the prime picnic spots. From there you can swim, SUP, or canoe — the Bos has several clean swimming spots — and there are scenic clearings all over for laying out a mat. The goat farm and pancake house make it a winner with kids.
Can you BBQ? Yes, with conditions. There are six public barbecues you can use, and personal grills are allowed if raised on a stand at least 50 cm off the ground and kept 5 meters from trees and bushes. Open fires are forbidden.
Best for: a picnic-plus-swim in West Amsterdam, away from the tourist crowds. Sloterplas is a large lake ringed by grassy banks, with swimming beaches, watersports, and paddleboat rental. Find a secluded patch on the quieter western shore, eat, then cool off in the water.
Best for: a quiet, peaceful picnic in the South. Beatrixpark is one of Amsterdam’s calmest parks — beautifully maintained, with benches, shaded lawns, a serene pond, and walking trails. It’s loveliest in spring and summer when the flowers bloom. Pack a book and a slow lunch.
Best for: a family picnic with space to roam, far from the tourist trail. Flevopark, in East Amsterdam, is spacious and rarely busy, with swimming and paddling pools for kids, diverse greenery, and water areas. Plenty of room for games and a relaxed afternoon by the water.
Best for: an underrated, low-key picnic in the West. Rembrandtpark is overshadowed by its famous neighbors but offers big grassy lawns, ponds, playgrounds, and quiet paths. Spread out under a tree, feed the ducks, and enjoy having space to yourself.
Best for: a small, atmospheric picnic without leaving the city center. You don’t always need a park. The quieter canal edges — the grassy banks of the Schinkel near Vondelpark, the leafy stretches around Westerpark, or a bridge ledge along a residential gracht — give you that classic Amsterdam waterside picnic. Bring a compact blanket, mind the bikes, and keep your bottle away from the edge.
See Related: Amsterdam’s Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions
The best picnic supplies in Amsterdam come from the street markets and small delis, not the parks themselves. For build-your-own spreads, hit a market; if you’d rather grab everything ready-made, a local deli is faster. Here’s where locals actually shop.
Amsterdam’s biggest street market, with hundreds of stalls of fresh produce, bread, cheese, Dutch herring, and warm stroopwafels. Vendors hand out samples, prices are fair, and it’s a two-minute walk from Sarphatipark — the single best supply run for a De Pijp picnic.
One of Amsterdam’s oldest and most multicultural markets, in the East. Excellent for fresh produce, cheeses, meats, and fresh bread, plus Mediterranean dips and snacks. It’s the natural supply stop on the way to Oosterpark or Flevopark.
If you don’t want to assemble a spread, a deli does it for you. Near Vondelpark, Renzo’s Delicatessen on Van Baerlestraat makes outstanding Italian sandwiches and antipasti. Near Westerpark, De Bakkerswinkel handles bread, quiche, and pastries. Across the city, Marqt and the larger Albert Heijn XL stores cover cheese, charcuterie, dips, and drinks.
One honest note: the Foodhallen in Oud-West is an indoor food court for eating hot food on the spot — it’s not really a picnic-supply stop. That said, if you’re already there, you can grab takeaway bitterballen or a gourmet sandwich to carry over to Vondelpark, a 10-minute walk away.
Amsterdam has strict, regularly updated rules about barbecuing in public parks — and they catch a lot of visitors out. The short version: BBQs are only allowed in roughly sixteen designated parks, and several of the most famous parks have banned them entirely. Always check the City of Amsterdam’s official BBQ map for your district before you light up, because the permitted zones change year to year.
No. Barbecuing is no longer allowed in Vondelpark. The old BBQ zone has closed, so plan a cold picnic if Vondelpark is your spot.
Westerpark, Oosterpark, Erasmuspark, and Noorderpark are among the parks with designated barbecue areas. Westerpark has fixed public grills in marked zones. The Amsterdamse Bos has six public barbecues plus rules for personal grills (see below). These are the reliable options for a legal cookout.
See Related: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Amsterdam: Best Times, Hidden Gems, and Local Insights
The best time for a picnic in Amsterdam is a sunny day from late spring to early autumn, ideally a weekday or a long summer evening to dodge the crowds. The city’s weather is famously fickle, so flexibility beats a fixed plan — check the forecast the morning of.
Peak picnic season. Temperatures usually sit between 20°C and 25°C (68°F–77°F) and the parks are at their greenest. Go early morning or late afternoon to skip the midday peak.
Mild weather and blooming flowers — think tulips and the Vondelpark rose garden coming to life. Cooler than summer (often 12°C–18°C / 54°F–64°F), but a sunny spring day is magic and far less crowded.
A local tip: the best picnics happen on zomeravonden. In June and July, daylight lingers until nearly 10 PM, so set up around 6 PM for a cooler, quieter, golden-hour picnic after the day-trippers leave.
Vondelpark and Westerpark get packed on sunny weekends. For peace, picnic on a weekday or early morning — or choose a quieter park like Beatrixpark, Flevopark, or Rembrandtpark.
Pack these essentials for a smooth Amsterdam picnic. Some links below are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep this site running.
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Vondelpark is the best all-round picnic spot in Amsterdam for its central location and lively atmosphere — just walk past the crowded Leidseplein entrance toward the Picasso sculpture for a quieter lawn. For a local feel choose Sarphatipark, for a BBQ choose Westerpark or Oosterpark, and for a full day out choose the Amsterdamse Bos.
Yes, but only in about sixteen designated parks, including Westerpark, Oosterpark, Erasmuspark, Noorderpark, and the Amsterdamse Bos. Barbecuing is banned in Vondelpark. Always grill in the marked zones, keep grills off the grass, and check the City of Amsterdam’s official BBQ map before you go.
For build-your-own spreads, shop the street markets — Albert Cuyp Market (near Sarphatipark) and Dappermarkt (near Oosterpark) are best for fresh bread, cheese, and produce. For ready-made food, use a local deli like Renzo’s near Vondelpark or De Bakkerswinkel near Westerpark.
Rules vary by park and district, and some areas have alcohol bans with fines. A glass of wine with a picnic is common and usually tolerated if you’re discreet and tidy, but public drinking is prohibited in parts of the city center — check local signage.
Yes. The quieter canal banks — such as the Schinkel near Vondelpark or the leafy edges around Westerpark — make great small, atmospheric picnic spots. Bring a compact blanket, keep clear of cyclists, and keep bottles away from the water’s edge.
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