Free outdoor art to explore in Amsterdam

De Plantage: history and memorial

According to the Talmud, the Jewish scripture, a person is only forgotten when his or her name is forgotten. The Stolpersteine, a public art project started in 1992 by German artist Gunter Demnig, was established to prevent this forgetting. Each brass stone is inscribed with the name of a Holocaust victim and placed outside the home where they last lived. While the stones have been placed city-wide, De Plantagebuurt or Jodenbuurt (Jewish Quarter) just east of the city centre has the highest concentration of these stumbling stones. Wander over to this area and reflect on these moving tributes to lives lost at the hands of Nazi occupation.

Oud-Zuid: sculptural gardens

The famed Rijksmuseum is known for its expansive art collection, but visitors often forget to check out the museum’s surrounding public gardens. An art hotspot in its own right, the curated gardens are full of remarkable pieces including a permanent collection of classic statues and sculptures, as well as changing exhibitions. Designed by Rijksmuseum architect Pierre Cuypers, whose vision was to create an open-air museum, this garden is an oasis in the busy inner city.

Tip: Don't miss the ARTZUID Sculpture Biennale, which takes place every other summer in Amsterdam Zuid.

Vondelpark: hidden masterpieces

An original Picasso sculpture is available for people from all over the world to see in a sunny corner of Vondelpark. Though often (incorrectly) interpreted as a fish, Figure découpée l’Oiseau is a bird sculpted in the Cubist style. The sculpture was donated to Amsterdam by the artist himself through his connection with Stedelijk Museum director Willem Sandberg. 

Tip: Explore all this and more on this Old Meets New walking route from Museumplein through Vondelpark.

NDSM: the home of graffiti

The former NDSM docklands across the River IJ have become a lively cultural area brimming with artistic expression. The giant mural of Anne Frank, titled Let Me Be Myself, smiles down on you the second you step off the free ferry from Amsterdam Central Station. The entire neighbourhood is famous for graffiti art, with countless murals, artists’ residences, and studios, and new pieces emblazoned on sheds and shipping containers almost weekly. And don't miss STRAAT - an indoor museum dedicated entirely to street art and graffiti.

Tip: Explore the best of NDSM's urban art on this themed Public Art walking route.

Bos en Lommer: sprawling murals

Towering over the parking lot at Willem de Zwijgerlaan on Karel Doormanstraat in Bos en Lommer, this 15-meter-wide mural by the legendary artist Keith Haring is hard to miss. But it wasn’t always that way – for years it was hidden behind a dull aluminium wall. It was only due to the initiative by local fans of Haring’s work that the mural was lovingly restored and unveiled to the public in 2018. Painted with his unmistakable flair and energy, the mural was completed during Haring’s visit for his Stedelijk Museum exhibition in 1986. One of the few Haring murals that still exist, this urban artwork perfectly captures his bold and playful style. 

Nieuw-West: an open-air museum

Nieuw-West is home to the Street Art Museum Amsterdam – an open-air art museum displaying works by street artists of international acclaim. Established nearly a decade ago as a community-based eco-museum, Street Art Museum Amsterdam is an NGO that uses street art as a tool for dialogue between locals and visitors. Dotted among the urban sprawl, discover a collection of more than 300 artworks, from tiny graffiti pieces to monumental murals. Visitors can access a map online for free and explore the collection on their own.

Zuidoost: a rising scene

Amsterdam Zuidoost has a lively art scene, which includes Creative Community Heesterveld. These artists’ residences and studios are housed within an iconic building painted in bold zig-zag stripes. Zuidoost is also home to plenty of eye-catching street art. Check out street artist Dalata's mural on Heesterveld 73, an initiative from community builder and Bijlmer local Eva de Klerk, who sought to transform the area into a thriving art space.