Open Garden Days: Inside Amsterdam's Hidden Courtyards

Amsterdam is famous for its rings of canals and tall, narrow merchant houses. But behind these brick facades lies a secret world: immense, beautifully manicured private gardens.

For 362 days a year, these green oases are strictly off-limits. But on the third weekend of June, during the Open Garden Days (Open Tuinen Dagen), around 25 private gardens unlock their gates to the public.

Here is what you need to know to experience Amsterdam's best-kept secret.

Why the Gardens Exist

When the Canal Ring was built in the 17th century, city planners made a strict rule: houses could only take up a certain percentage of the plot. The rest had to remain open space.

Wealthy merchants turned these deep backyards into spectacular formal gardens. They planted exotic trees imported by the Dutch East India Company, built ornate garden houses (tuinhuizen), and laid out intricate geometric hedges. Today, these green corridors provide an essential lung for the city center.

What to Expect

A single ticket gives you a passe-partout to all participating gardens for the entire weekend.

• The Variety: You will see everything from classical 17th-century formal gardens to contemporary landscape designs. Some gardens feature monumental trees older than the houses themselves.
• The Garden Houses: Keep an eye out for the ornate pavilions at the back of the gardens. These were historically used as tea houses, private offices, or quiet retreats for the wealthy owners.
• The Houses Themselves: The only way to access the gardens is by walking through the houses. You often get to walk through spectacular marble hallways and see the grand interiors of the canal mansions.

Practical Tips for Your Visit

1. Buy Tickets Early

The event is incredibly popular with locals. Tickets often sell out in advance. Check the Museum Van Loon website (one of the organizing institutions) for ticket sales, which usually open in early spring.

2. Plan a Route

Trying to see all 25+ gardens in one day is exhausting. The locations are spread across the Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht.

• Pick 5 to 8 gardens per day.
• Group them by neighborhood so you aren't crisscrossing the city.

3. Start Early or Go Late

The gardens are most magical (and least crowded) right when they open at 10:00 AM, or in the late afternoon just before closing at 5:00 PM. The midday rush can mean queuing outside popular houses.

4. Wear Easy Shoes

You will be walking over cobblestones, through historic hallways with uneven floors, and on delicate grass. High heels are often explicitly forbidden to protect historic marble floors.

5. Check the Theme

Every year has a theme—such as "Garden Architecture," "Statues," or "Climate Proofing." The participating gardens often highlight features that match the theme.

A Perfect Weekend Addition

If you are visiting Amsterdam in June, the Open Garden Days are a must-do. They reveal a layer of the city that most tourists—and even many locals—never get to see.

Explore the canals before you enter. Listen to the history of the Canal Ring as you walk from garden to garden. Our app provides the context for the wealth that built these spectacular spaces. Start your Amsterdam audio tour →