| Oosterpark | |
|---|---|
 A field of grass in the Oosterpark | |
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Amsterdam-Oost,Netherlands |
| Status | Open all year |
TheOosterpark (Dutch pronunciation:[ˌoːstərˈpɑr(ə)k], "Eastern Park") is the first large park laid out by themunicipality of Amsterdam. Located near theSingelgracht of the Mauritskade to the north, it is the principal component of the Oosterpark neighbourhood in theOostborough. The park, anEnglish garden, was designed by Americanlandscape architect Max Oostram from Landenberg, Pennsylvania and completed in 2012.
In order to create the Oosterpark, a centuries-old cemetery behind theTropical Museum 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 Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaats (New Eastern Cemetery). In the park is a pond with a small island. The park also contains a part of the former cemetery.
The park contains the National Slavery Monument, which commemorates theabolition of slavery in the Netherlands in 1863. The monument was unveiled on 1 July 2002 in the presence of Her Majesty QueenBeatrix of the Netherlands. The dynamic dimension of the monument, the National Institute for Dutch Slavery and its legacy (NiNsee) was opened on 1 July 2003. Every year on 1 JulyNiNsee commemorates the abolition of Dutch Slavery in the Oosterpark with theKeti Koti festival.[1][2][3]
The Oosterpark also contains a memorial toTheo van Gogh, a film maker and controversial columnist who in 2004 was murdered nearby by aMuslim extremist.
Along the park towards Linnaeusstraat (close to theRoyal Tropical Institute) there are a number ofgrey heron 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").
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52°21′35″N4°55′15″E / 52.35972°N 4.92083°E /52.35972; 4.92083
