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Oosterpark (Amsterdam)
Encyclopedia
The Oosterpark in Amsterdam
is the first large park laid out by the municipality of Amsterdam
. The park is located in the Oost/Watergraafsmeer
borough and forms a component of the Oosterpark area. The park, an English garden
, was designed by Dutch landscape architect
Leonard Anthony Springer and was laid out in 1891.
had to be relocated. There were a lot of protests at the time when the municipality of Amsterdam suggested the new plans. In the end the protesters gave in and agreed with the new location for "their" cemetery which is now known as the New Ooster Begraafplaats.
In the park is a pond with a small island. The park also contains a part of the former cemetery.
in the Netherlands in 1863. The monument was unveiled on July 1, 2002 in the presence of her Royal Majesty Queen Beatrix. The dynamic dimension of the monument, the National Institute for Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (NiNsee
) was opened on July 1, 2003. Every year on July 1, NiNsee
commemorates the abolition of Dutch Slavery in the Oosterpark with the Keti Koti festival.
The Oosterpark also contains a memorial to Theo van Gogh
, a film maker and controversial columnist who in 2004 was murdered nearby by a Muslim extremist.
nests.
The streets lining the southern and western borders of the park are also called Oosterpark. Originally these streets were called Eerste Parkstraat ("First Park Street").
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
is the first large park laid out by the municipality of Amsterdam
Amsterdam (municipality)
The Government of Amsterdam is the government of the municipality and city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Most of the inhabitants live in the city of Amsterdam, but the municipality also covers a number of small villages, and other parts of the local government, such as the Waterschap or the...
. The park is located in the Oost/Watergraafsmeer
Oost/Watergraafsmeer
Oost-Watergraafsmeer is a stadsdeel of Amsterdam. It borders to Diemen, Duivendrecht, and the boroughs Amsterdam-Centrum, Oud-Zuid, Zeeburg, and Zuideramstel. The Watergraafsmeer part of the borough is a polder.Located in Oost/Watergraafsmeer:...
borough and forms a component of the Oosterpark area. The park, an English garden
English garden
The English garden, also called English landscape park , is a style of Landscape garden which emerged in England in the early 18th century, and spread across Europe, replacing the more formal, symmetrical Garden à la française of the 17th century as the principal gardening style of Europe. The...
, was designed by Dutch landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
Leonard Anthony Springer and was laid out in 1891.
Construction
In order to create the Oosterpark, a centuries old cemetery behind the Tropical MuseumTropenmuseum
The Tropenmuseum is an anthropological museum located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and established in 1864.One of the largest museums in Amsterdam, the museum accommodates eight permanent exhibitions and an ongoing series of temporary exhibitions, including both modern and traditional visual...
had to be relocated. There were a lot of protests at the time when the municipality of Amsterdam suggested the new plans. In the end the protesters gave in and agreed with the new location for "their" cemetery which is now known as the New Ooster Begraafplaats.
In the park is a pond with a small island. The park also contains a part of the former cemetery.
National Slavery Monument
The park contains The National Slavery Monument, which commemorates the abolition of slaveryAbolition of slavery timeline
Abolition of slavery occurred as abolition in specific countries, abolition of the trade in slaves and abolition throughout empires. Each of these steps was usually the result of a separate law or action.-Ancient times:...
in the Netherlands in 1863. The monument was unveiled on July 1, 2002 in the presence of her Royal Majesty Queen Beatrix. The dynamic dimension of the monument, the National Institute for Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (NiNsee
Ninsee
The National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands and was established to document the history of Dutch Slavery from various perspectives. NiNsee is an institute for researchers, educators and historians...
) was opened on July 1, 2003. Every year on July 1, NiNsee
Ninsee
The National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands and was established to document the history of Dutch Slavery from various perspectives. NiNsee is an institute for researchers, educators and historians...
commemorates the abolition of Dutch Slavery in the Oosterpark with the Keti Koti festival.
Memorial
Theo van Gogh (film director)
Theodoor "Theo" van Gogh was a Dutch film director, film producer, columnist, author and actor.Van Gogh worked with the Somali-born writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali to produce the film Submission, which criticized the treatment of women in Islam and aroused controversy among Muslims...
, a film maker and controversial columnist who in 2004 was murdered nearby by a Muslim extremist.
Plants and animals
Along the park towards Linnaeusstraat (close to the Royal Tropical Institute) there are a number of Grey HeronGrey Heron
The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
nests.
The streets lining the southern and western borders of the park are also called Oosterpark. Originally these streets were called Eerste Parkstraat ("First Park Street").