The Jac. P. Thijssepark is a small but extraordinary public garden laid out as a series of native Dutch plant communities — heath, woodland, fen, riverbank. Winding paths, ponds, and wooden footbridges weave through plantings that change dramatically with the seasons: golden marsh marigolds in spring, purple loosestrife and yellow flag in summer, fiery red maples in autumn.
The park is named after Jac. P. Thijsse, the great Dutch naturalist who championed the idea of bringing native flora back into the city. It is small enough to walk in an hour but rewards a longer visit. Entry is free and the park is open year-round.