Playing in the city, welcome to Blijdorp
Plenty of play areas in the city centre
Plenty of playgrounds in the middle of the city; that’s Blijdorp in a nutshell. We have five tips for you!
Roel Langerakpark
Next to Neptunus, one of the most famous baseball clubs in the Netherlands, lies the somewhat hidden Roel Langerakpark. A special feature of this small park is that it has a freely accessible running track. A great location to work on your sprint technique on your own or to sharpen your 400-metre time. And if you like to play with Frisbees, then you will find a beautifully marked disc course here.
De Speeldernis
Where can you find a place to romp in nature in the big city? For this you can visit the nature playground the Speeldernis in the Roel Langerakpark, where children are given the freedom to play. There are trees, bushes, branches, reeds, water and sand to do whatever they want with. There is a campfire place and a tipi to make something delicious together. Warning for laundry baskets: children are allowed to get dirty at the Speeldernis!
Vroesenpark
The Vroesenpark has developed into the communal garden of Blijdorp in recent years. The park is filled with locals who picnic and barbecue together until late at night, every day in the summer. For the little ones there is a nice playground, and those who do not feel like carrying their own bottles of rosé can go to the Vroesenpaviljoen for a drink on the restaurant’s large terrace. The big field is also popular with athletes, and you can fish in the pond.
Tennis centre Blijdorp
Tennis Park Blijdorp offers nineteen outdoor courts, including five clay courts and fourteen smash courts. You can also play in the winter because there are six indoor courts. You can rent a court, participate in the many activities or become a member of the club. You can also take lessons. Tennis, anyone?
Blijdorp Zoo
Blijdorp Zoo is one of the top 5 most-visited attractions in the Netherlands with 1.5 million visitors per year. Many Rotterdam families have an annual pass for the zoo and are happy to visit because of the fantastic walking routes, the playgrounds, the cosy terraces, the Oceanium and, of course, the many animal enclosures. Blijdorp is also known for its special design by architect Sybold van Ravesteyn that has given the zoo a national monument status.
