Happy Monday, everyone!
One of my favorite parts of Amsterdam summer is wild blackberry season: ripe blackberries, free for the taking. Nothing more magical than meandering through the local city park with the dog and toddler and stopping to pick some wild blackberries for home 😊 I thought I’d share what I do, so y’all can partake in the fun, too!
🧺 My approach to blackberry foraging in Amsterdam
Big, big disclaimer: This is just my take, with all of the usual caveats. Don’t come after me, this is not a complete list of resources, I haven’t done exhaustive research. It’s just me sharing something that brings me joy in Amsterdam summer 😁
Also: The bushes are very spiky! If you’re anxious about thorns in little fingers (me too), you can always give your child the important job of holding the basket. The darker the blackberry is, the riper it is. If it’s still red, best to leave it on the bush and wait a few days. And avoid the low-hanging ones, for dog-related reasons…
Where can I find them?
Head into your city park to check for blackberry bushes! I can confirm that there are berries in Noorderpark and in the western half of Rembrandtpark — I won’t tell you precisely where, as the hunt is half the fun 😎 (Though if we’re in the park together for the Singing Mamas event on Wednesday, maybe we can pick some berries after.)
There’s an interactive map called Wildplukwijzer, where you can discover seasonal fruits and herbs at public foraging spots throughout the city. Useful well beyond blackberry season, too.
What’s allowed?
The Gemeente (city government) recently released this Instagram reel outlining how to pick wild blackberries safely, in accordance with health and city policies. You can’t take large amounts of berries or sell them, but otherwise fair game!
My personal plea — please leave berries for others 🙏🏻 If you want to pick a lot of berries, Fruittuin van West is an excellent self-pick farm in Geuzenveld. For park pickers, take just a handful so that there’s enough for all to go around ❤️
What should I do with my berries?
First up, make sure to wash them well — a water rinse is not really enough! I wash my berries in a lime juice and water mix (1 part juice to 3 parts water), but you can also use white vinegar or baking soda. Here’s a berry washing guide from Harvard’s School of Public Health.
As for recipes, the blackberries in our household are strictly bowl-to-mouth — we are impatient berry eaters 😁
Happy picking 🧺
Little hands with wild blackberries from the park
🗓️ What’s happening around town
Looking for something fun to do with your little one? Here's a selection of upcoming activities and events for babies, toddlers, and their parents.
Postpartum Post: August match
Want to meet a new parent for a coffee or playdate this Summer, close to home and on your terms? You have until 5 August to sign up for our second 1:1 parent match round.
With a 4.75 star "happy with the match process" rating and 25 committed members after just a month, Postpartum Post is really gaining steam. (This excites me endlessly 🥹) Moms, dads, expecting, newborns, babies, toddlers, multiples, and more — all who want to skip the group chaos and free-event no-shows to build real, deep community connections are welcome 🤗
APP & Friends
Wed 29 Jul @ 10:30-12:00
APP is teaming up with Danielle from Singing Mamas for a pop-up sing and picnic in Rembrandtpark! Homemade snacks, babies and toddlers roaming in the grass, and our — untrained, but lovely — community voices harmonizing with the leaves in the wind... We're going for maximum cozy vibes for this hang.
Sat 1 Aug @ 10:30-12:00 — Oosterdok
Connect with other expecting local parents at our bi-monthly Autumn/Winter 2026-2027 hang, free & hosted at the OBA Centraal location. Already 17 parents-to-be registered, so you’ll be in good company!
East
Wed 29 Jul @ 15:00-22:00 — Indische Buurt
Pride Oost is a family-friendly community celebration featuring live performances, market stalls, and music at Javaplein for neighbors and visitors of all ages. Fun fact: the amazing local birth & postpartum doula Toni Muller is performing with her choir here! 🏳️🌈❤️
Sun 9 Aug @ 11:00-14:30 — Oosterpark
It's the last event of the Oosterpark Picnic Concert series. There’s a free children's music workshop (3+), an opportunity to touch and play instruments, and a concert later in the afternoon where Frank Bridge Piano Quartet will be performing Brahms.
West
Sat 1 Aug @ 10:00-12:00 (Every 2 weeks) — Postjesbuurt
Help keep the local streets clean, green, and inviting — with the whole family along. The event concludes with a community coffee session, making it a great way to meet neighbors and fellow local families interested in volunteering. You can sign up here.
Sun 2 Aug @ 09:30-11:00 — Bos en Lommer
Community mom Mandy is hosting the Amsterdam edition of Voeden in Verbinding, a collective breastfeeding celebration for moms across Belgium and the Netherlands. You're encouraged to directly feed or pump together; bring a picnic blanket, an open heart, and
potentiallysnacks.It's finally open again!!!!! The playground in the northern section of Rembrandtpark was renovated and now has a new zip line, swings, wooden equipment, and a giant netted climbing/rope path thing I haven't seen anywhere else in the city. Patio Café just around the corner is very baby (and dog!) friendly, too.
South
Thu 30 Jul @ 17:00-19:00 (Every 2 weeks) — Bijlmer
Stichting Futurum Nobis has started hosting a biweekly English-speaking gathering in Nelson Mandela Park. It’s for local parents and children to meet, chat, and play — free and inclusive to all!
Tue 4 Aug @ 10:45-12:00 — Vondelpark
On the heels of two super popular babywearing dance events at MOVE Collective, professional dancer, dance teacher, and mom Maria started Carry & Groove to host more! She’s leading a babywearing dance workshop outdoors next week, and it's designed to get you moving with real music you want to dance to.
Wed 5 Aug @ 11:00-12:30 — Vondelpark
De Kleine Village is hosting a relaxed community picnic and a professional photoshoot in Vondelpark. Every mom will receive an edited photo with their little one after the event.
Center
Mon 27 Jul @ 10:30-11:00 (Daily) — Kattenburg
Start your day relaxed with water yoga with the little ones, where you’ll dive into a wave, sway like a boat, and dance like seaweed. Weather permitting, outside on the jetty. Daily at 10:30, 11:15, and 12:00.
Sat 1 Aug @ 10:30-12:30 — Oosterdok
Rainbow Stories is hosting a special story & craft session at OBA Oosterdok to celebrate Pride! The location is where the boats are getting ready to begin the Pride parade, so it should be fun to look around before things get too busy. 2 Dutch books, 1 English book, art, popsicles, and Pride — a recipe for a wonderful time 🏳️🌈
Sun 2 Aug @ 11:45-13:00 — Nieuwmarkt/Lastage
Join The Offline Club for a unique social reading experience at the NEMO Science Museum rooftop, where hundreds gather to read silently without phones. The event is free (pay-what-you-like) and open to all ages looking to connect over books and live music.
Everywhere
7-9 Aug
Introduce your young children to the diversity of classical music through concerts, theater, storytelling, and interactive workshops held at over 125 locations across Amsterdam. There are many events like a concert for the 1+ year old crowd on the Keizersgracht happening on the 8th — and tons more for all ages!
Online
Community mom Sara is quietly, deeply building NOE: a sensory-guided, psychologist-approved journal collection paired with live workshops to help women navigate life’s big transitions — like stepping into motherhood, moving to a new city, or career pivots. Before launching this Fall, she's looking for your perspective to help shape what NOE becomes, with an exclusive grounding audio track at the end of the survey as a thank-you.
Did you find an event today? Consider donating to support our work and keep this newsletter free for the community.
Until next time,
Alex from the Amsterdam Parent Project (APP)
