De Lange Bretten

Could a city’s edge truly hold a wilderness? At De Lange Bretten, Amsterdam shows us the answer is a resounding yes. This unexpected haven, larger than the famed Vondelpark, sprawls between the N200 highway and Westpoort’s industrial hum. De Lange Bretten isn’t just a park. It’s a testament to nature’s resilience, a green lung breathing life into Amsterdam’s western edge. Its story begins in 1631 with the digging of the Haarlem-Amsterdam canal. This waterway sliced through two polders, the Spieringhornpolder and Huis de Bretten polder, setting the stage for De Lange Bretten’s unique evolution. The area became a dumping ground for dredged soil and metro excavation debris. Old dikes, heaps of stone, and stretches of dune sand mingled with newly dug waterways. This seemingly chaotic mix, however, became the perfect recipe for biodiversity. De Lange Bretten now thrives as Amsterdam’s “last urban wilderness”. This haven supports a surprising array of flora and fauna. Scottish highlanders and Dutch land goats roam freely, their grazing preventing overgrowth. Birdwatchers can delight in sightings of bitterns, bluethroats, and western marsh harriers. The keen-eyed might glimpse an ermine, hawk, kingfisher, bat, fox, or water shrew. De Lange Bretten offers more than just wildlife viewing. Wander along its trails, explore open fields, and pause by tranquil water bodies. This urban wilderness invites you to picnic among the greenery or skate along dedicated paths. Several entrances provide easy access. Enter from the west at the end of Tijnmuiden road, from the center via the parking lot on Australiëhavenweg, or from the east via the pedestrian and bicycle entrance on Seineweg. De Lange Bretten stands as a vibrant reminder that wildness can flourish even in the heart of a bustling city. Come and experience the unexpected beauty of Amsterdam’s urban jungle.