Have you ever strolled through a park named after a biographer? Welcome to Piet Wiedijkpark. This Amsterdam oasis in Osdorp is more than just green space. It’s a living testament to urban planning and artistic expression.
Piet Wiedijkpark was created in the mid-1960s. It was part of Amsterdam’s General Expansion Plan. The park’s design was clever. It seamlessly blends with the Sloterpark ecologically and the Sloterplas in terms of water management. Creating this green space wasn’t easy. A complex drainage system was needed to keep the ground dry.
The park’s western border is marked by its namesake. It’s the Piet Wiedijkstraat. Both street and park honor Piet Wiedijk. He was a pharmacist and publicist who wrote the first biography of Multatuli under the pseudonym J. Saks.
Piet Wiedijkpark has been redesigned several times. In 1972-73 a pierenbad a wading pool was added. This pool is a unique example. It follows the design of Aldo van Eyck’s famous playgrounds. The pool features his signature stepping stones. These are arranged in an arc. They were later covered to prevent falls. Interestingly Van Eyck’s signature playground equipment is missing from this particular design.
The northern part of the park became the Natuurtuin de Wiedijk in the late 1990s. Volunteers created this nature garden. Some trees were removed during its creation. However new species were also planted. The Ecologisch Milieu Educatie Centrum Osdorp (EECO) is located here. It offers environmental education to local schoolchildren.
In the mid-2000s more changes happened. A new pond and waterway were added. This was to compensate for paving elsewhere. A footbridge now connects the sections separated by the new waterway.
Piet Wiedijkpark is more than just greenery. It holds artistic treasures. There’s the pierenbad for the children. Nearby are two large concrete animal sculptures by Josje Smit. She also created a set of matching stools. In the south stands ‘Het gevecht’ by Paul van Crimpen. This statue was seriously damaged in December 2022 but has been restored. A group of colourful stands for solar panels in the pond is another interesting piece. The designer remains unknown.
Three bridges designed by Dick Slebos span the Christoffelplantijngracht. They are architecturally significant. They connect different parts of the park. Another bridge is the Brug 2390 a wooden footbridge built around 2006 over a drainage ditch. It links the pond to the canal.
Piet Wiedijkpark is easily reached by trams 1 and 17. The Meer en Vaart stop is the closest. So step into this hidden gem. Discover the stories embedded within its green heart. Enjoy this remarkable space in Amsterdam’s urban tapestry.