Once in a while one stumbles upon a place that has that ‘wow factor’. I guess you could call those places hidden secrets. ‘Park Schoonoord’ is one of those hidden secrets. With this article I’ll expose Schoonoord and risk a crowded park, but it is for the greater good of having a chill day.

Park Schoonoord is a small park/garden near the Euromast. Its history dates back to the 18th century when it was a garden that belonged to one of the nearby villas. After numerous owners, the park came to the possession of the Mees family, a banker family. They opened Schoonoord for the public in 1970 and since then the city has been responsible for its maintenance.

Once you enter through the gates, all that noise from the city disappears. Instead you’ll hear chirping birds, a waterfall and zooming insects. The park has a large pond with some pretty big fish in it and some ancient-looking trees. The perfect place to stroll around. It even has a bird house with adorable-looking fluffy birds. The lapwings are the cutest!

This park is wonderful to have a city Zen moment in. I find it lovely to sit at a quiet spot under the trees and close my eyes for a moment. There may or may not have been some power naps. Be warned!