When spring knocks on the door I like to visit the Heemtuin. One of the, if not the, most beautiful garden in the city. It is most certainly one of the lesser known. The Heemtuin is hidden within the Kralingse Bos, Rotterdam’s largest park. Most people walk straight past it. Although I cannot blame them, the entrance isn’t that obvious to spot.

The Heemtuin is situated on the Northside of the Kralingse Plas (the lake within the Kralingse Bos). It has some dry and wet grasslands, plants, trees, shrubs… On top of that many, different (small) animals can be found in the garden such as frogs, salamanders, birds and insects. It even has birdhouses, so with a bit of luck you can spot some bird younglings.

I prefer to visit the garden in the evening, when it’s quiet and the sun sets. You can follow the piers within the garden. It feels a bit like a maze but in the end you’ll have a magnificent view over the Kralingse Plas with birds chirping in your ears and fish swimming under your feet. The most spectacular thing by far is the skyline of the city. I love to bring a few beers, enjoy the sunset and chill. Be careful of the bird droppings, though. For some reason, unknown to men, they like to poop on the piers!