Doesn’t the name Burgemeester Reinaldapark just roll off your tongue? This city park in Haarlem honors Marius Antoon Reinalda. He was a former mayor of Haarlem. Let’s explore its history and features together.
The Burgemeester Reinaldapark wasn’t always a park. It used to be a landfill. Imagine the transformation. The area needed to make way for the expansion of Parkwijk and the Zuiderpolder. So the garbage had to go.
In 2010, the Burgemeester Reinaldapark faced another big change. The park needed cleaning up. Waste was resurfacing in several spots. A new sanitation layer was put in place. All the trees had to be removed for this. A new design for the park was carefully studied.
Today, the Burgemeester Reinaldapark has a hilly landscape. It is highest on the Schipholweg side. This is the south side. The park slopes gradually toward the Leonard Springerlaan on the north side. The southern part features more trees. You will also find football fields, tennis courts, and a restaurant here.
Getting around the Burgemeester Reinaldapark is easy. There are paths for different types of traffic. Cars cannot pass through. However, the Reinaldapad path serves partly as a parking area.
Cyclists have plenty of options. Four bike paths connect the north, south, east, and west sides of the Burgemeester Reinaldapark. The Teunisbloempad path is for both cyclists and pedestrians. It runs from the Zomervaart extension to the Fuikvaartweg. The Fuiklaantje is another bike path. It connects to the Leonard Springerlaan. Finally, the Reinaldapad forms an east-west connection.
For walkers, the Zwanenbloembocht path winds through the Burgemeester Reinaldapark. It passes through all parts of the park. The path starts in the northwest corner. It rises near the Fuikplas.
Kids will love the playground at the end of the winding path. It has a small play area with a slide.
The Burgemeester Reinaldapark also offers open spaces. The grassy area is perfect for relaxing. It is a large lawn surrounded by a four-meter-wide waterway. This creates a semicircle that gently curves. It borders the Reinaldapad on the north side.
Don’t miss the Hortensiaheuvel. This is a seating area on a raised part of the hill. Hydrangeas are planted here. Winding paths go through the hydrangeas. A pergola with benches sits atop the Hortensiaheuvel.
Also of note is the Selimiye Mosque, a testament to Haarlem’s diverse community.
Take a moment to appreciate the monument in the Burgemeester Reinaldapark. It commemorates those who died in World War II. From landfill to a beautiful park, the Burgemeester Reinaldapark offers something for everyone. Its history and features make it a special place in Haarlem.