The Amstelveen Heemparks

The Amstelveen Heemparks A Study of Unique Design, Pioneering Management Techniques, and Opportunities for Translation

Keenan Porter

The Amstelveen Heemparks

The Amstelveen Heemparks A Study of Unique Design, Pioneering Management Techniques, and Opportunities for Translation Keenan Porter

To the Heempark gardeners of the past, future, and most of all present.

Dank u zeer. Jullie, de Heemparken, en Amstelveen zal voor altijd een belangrijk onderdeel van mijn leven zijn.

Contents

Preface 8 Study Background • Aim of Study • What is Covered • Methods Background 15 Site History • Heemparks • Key Figures • Present Day Design 23 Sites and Layouts • Path Design • Circulation • Open and Closed Spaces • Transitions Between Spaces • Conceal and Reveal • Viewsheds and Vistas • Architectural and Ornamental Uses of Plants • Water • Built Elements Ecology 59 Soil • Significance of Native (Heem) Plants • Designing Nature • Biodiversity • Succession and Competition Management 71 Maintaining a Feeling, Not a Design • Amstelveen Pruning • Other Pruning • Weeding • Mowing • Removal of Established Vegetation • Dead Vegetation • New Plantings • Restarting Areas • Concealing Management • Team Dedication and Knowledge Case Studies 97 Het Amsterdamse Bos • 204-206 Amsterdamseweg • Meanderpark Translation 117 Understanding the Site • Soil • Plants • Design • Management • Government and Community Support • Telling Your Story • Sharing Knowledge Summary 135 Acknowledgments 137 Bibliography/Photo Credits 138 Definitions & Translations 139 < View to the large lake in Thijssepark

Preface Study Background This independent, self-directed study was completed as part of the degree requirements for The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program.

Relating to my personal background and interest in planting design and urban ecology, the original research question asked “How can planting design and plant selection contribute to the ecology of a city while also creating welcoming and engaging urban public spaces?” The proposed goal of the study was to determine how planting design strategies help to create spaces that enhance Rotterdam’s urban ecology, through both human and wildlife benefits.

The study was initially intended to be carried out in the city of Rotterdam, but after touring the Amstelveen Heemparks, they were determined to be the ideal site. The Heempark’s location within an urban context and focus on planting design with native species fit both my interests and original project goals extremely well. In addition to looking at the design and ecology of the space as originally intended, the study was expanded to include the unique management techniques carried out by the Heempark gardeners. The updated research question posed three sub-questions in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the system and how its benefits could be applied elsewhere: • “What design elements have made the Amstelveen Heemparks successful spaces for both people and wildlife?”

• “What are the management strategies practiced in the Heemparks, and how have they contributed to the long-term maintenance of the parks’ design goals as well as the preservation the delicate biodiversity of the parks?”

• “How can the lessons learned from the Heemparks be translated in order to improve the urban ecologies of cities in other parts of the world?”

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Preface

Downy birch (Betula pubescens) in De Braak The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Aim of Study This study was undertaken with the goal of gaining an in-depth understanding of the design, ecology, and maintenance of the Amstelveen Heemparks, a unique system of urban public parks that have been maintained by a dedicated staff and enjoyed by residents of Amstelveen and surrounding communities for more than eighty years. Through the lessons learned from the Heemparks, outlining principles were determined for how the design and maintenance strategies can be translated to help improve the urban ecology of other cities around the world.

What is Covered This study looks into the design, ecology, and management of the Amstelveen Heemparks. The Design chapter covers aspects including park layouts, path designs, and various examples of how vegetation impacts the atmosphere of the parks in order to gain an understanding of how different elements fit together to create the park’s atmosphere. The Ecology chapter looks at soil, biodiversity, natural processes, and how the Heemparks act as “designed nature” that provide critical habitat to urban fauna. The Management chapter explains the pioneering techniques that are utilized to maintain the design intentions laid out decades ago and preserve the biodiversity of the parks. The Case Studies chapter compares the Heemparks to three other local parks, determining differences and similarities in their design and maintenance to show the importance of the work being done at the Heemparks. Finally, the Translation chapter takes the lessons learned from the previous chapters and distills them into general rules and explanations of how similar parks could be designed in other parts of the world. Each piece is important to understanding how the parks have endured more than eighty years of operation while still staying true to its original vision and culminates in the framework for opportunities to translate the benefits of the Heemparks to other places.

Methods This study included a combination of field work, shadowing, and personal observations. Field work involved working directly with the Heempark staff to gain hands-on experience in their unique maintenance methods.

Instead of simply observing, I had the opportunity to participate directly, giving me firsthand experience and a deeper understanding of the thought process behind maintenance decisions. This firsthand understanding of 10

Preface

their processes helped me view other aspects of the site differently and more comprehensively.

Shadowing allowed me to spend all or part of each work day with one of the Heempark employees and gain an in-depth understanding of their jobs.

I was able to ask questions to get a more detailed understanding of the thought process behind design and maintenance decisions - information that would have been unattainable through observation alone. Each day of shadowing was usually limited to a specific section of one park, which allowed me to learn about the intricacies of spaces that I might have otherwise passed over. I also was able to shadow several excursions, which toured groups throughout the entire park system and gave a broad explanation of the park’s history and current upkeep. Having the opportunity to work with several members of the staff over the course of my study exposed me to different approaches towards maintenance, with each person explaining and carrying out their decisions slightly differently but achieving similar results. Many aspects of park design and maintenance would have been inaccessible to me had I not had the opportunity to ask questions and receive explanations.

I also carried out personal observations to better understand the design of the parks as well as user experience factors. The primary method of understanding these factors involved walking through the parks multiple times a day, and observing, documenting, and mapping. I spent time walking throughout the entire three-park system, not stopping but observing how the paths and vegetation dictated where I looked and walked. I also would spend more time in specific areas, such as transition spaces. I would walk through a closed space to open space transition, then walk the other way from open to closed. I took a 360 degree view of the space to find design elements that made the transitions smooth. I mapped the layout of the system in plan view, as well as took sections as I moved through the space to better visualize aspects such as density and sense of enclosure. Each time I walked through the parks I found new elements that contributed to the parks’ atmospheres and over time was able to connect small factors and understand how the design and maintenance of the Heemparks are able to create such a beneficial and unique system of urban public space.

The Amstelveen Heemparks

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A plane en-route to Schipol Airport flies over a meadow in Thijssepark; a reminder of the park’s urban context

Picture

Background The Heemparks are a unique system of urban public parks whose beauty and functionality have persisted more than eighty years since their original design and installation. Though almost entirely man-made, they are designed and managed to mimic the native peat landscapes of the region and boast an exceptional diversity of more than 400 indigenous species.

< Watercourse in Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Site History The Heemparks are located in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, a 17-square mile city of 90,000 citizens just south of Amsterdam (citypopulation.de).

Amsterdam Zuid

Schipol Sites of the Heemparks (see pg. 24)

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De Braak, the first of the three Heemparks, was designed starting in 1939 (thijssepark.nl). The project intended to attract commuters from Amsterdam by creating green spaces around residential homes. De Braak is named after a peat lake that first formed in the seventeenth-century after a dike around the lake Haarlemmermeer collapsed. As the Heemparks were installed, De Braak lake, the Hoornsloot canal, and the other 16

Background

existing ponds and lakes were left mostly unchanged, acting as a link to the area’s nineteenth-century landscape. The other watercourses that define De Braak, Thijssepark, and Landwehrpark today were all designed by Chris Broerse and dug between 1940 and 1972 when the final section of Thijssepark was completed (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg.1 0).

Heemparks The term “heempark” was not coined until after the Amstelveen Heemparks were already under construction. Broerse first used the term in 1946 to describe public parks and gardens designed with wild plants. He described that within heemparks: “People should feel as if they are surrounded by distinctive aspects of their living environment, by the soil and climate they know and trust. Then they will feel at home surrounded by the vegetation, birds, and butterflies from their own countryside” (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg. 10).

Dr. Koos Landwehr, whose botanical expertise helped create the Heemparks, explained that: “The created landscape had to appear to have always been there, the difference being that they can actually be experienced” (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg. 10).

Betula forest in Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks

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The Heemparks utilize almost exclusively native (inheem) Dutch flora. The definition of native in this context, however, applies to plants that have grown in the Netherlands for more than one hundred years, resulting in some plants originating from other parts of the world being included (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg. 10). Designed with a comprehensive understanding of native plant communities, the Heemparks do not attempt to perfectly imitate, but rather “perfect” them (thijssepark.nl). This has resulted in a picturesque assemblage of flora adapted to peat soil that acts as both an area of respite for people as well as habitat for native fauna tucked away within its urban surroundings.

Perennial mixes in Thijssepark

Key Figures Chris P. Broerse Christiaan Pieter Broerse (1902-95) was the designer of the Amstelveen Heemparks. He pioneered the idea of heemparks - which have now spread across the Netherlands - and promoted the utilization of native plants in landscape designs. He was formerly the director of Amstelveen’s Parks and Public Gardens Department as well as the chairman of the Association of Netherlands Landscape Gardeners (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg. 12).

Dr. Koos Landwehr Dr. Jacobus ‘Koos’ Landwehr (1911-96) was a landscape designer and horticulturist. His vast and comprehensive knowledge of Dutch native plants was crucial to the design of the Heemparks, and many of the plants 18

Background

growing in the parks were obtained during Landwehr’s travels throughout the Netherlands. As an experienced nurseryman, he led the nursery in De Braak and raised the plants he collected to be planted throughout the parks. Landwehr is also widely known for his writings and illustrations of Dutch and European flora. Originally called the Mauritsplantsoen, the smallest of the three Heemparks was renamed to for Landwehr in 1997 (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg. 51). A plaque currently sits at the entrance to honor his memory and impacts on Amstelveen’s Heemparks.

Jac. P. Thijsse Jacobus Pieter Thijsse (1865-1945) was a conservationist, biologist, and teacher. He was an advocate for including indigenous plants in gardens and parks, and was a key figure in the formation of the ‘Society for the Preservation of Natural Reserves in the Netherlands.’ Thijsse co-authored a series of children’s books ‘About Butterflies, Flowers, and Birds,’ and started the journal ‘Living Nature,’ which is still published to this day. Thijsse’s ideas directly impacted Chris Broerse and his design of the Heemparks. In 1953, the Westelijk Bovenpark was renamed Thijssepark to honor him (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg. 58).

Present Day The Heemparks continue their positive impacts on Amstelveen to this day, reaching their 80th anniversary in 2020. Since 2011, Thijssepark and De Braak have been national monuments. In 2014, Amstelveen was awarded the gold medal for “Greenest City in Europe” by the Flowery Alliance of Europe (thijssepark.nl). Amstelveen has also been awarded the most attractive city in the Netherlands to live in and has been ranked in the top three on the national list of best cities to live in, thanks in large part to their parks system. The parks have changed throughout the years as plants have been shifted, been added, and been removed, but the original design intentions have stayed clear and consistent. The park is currently managed by a team of approximately ten gardeners, whose dedicated efforts ensure that the Heemparks remain the incredibly unique spaces that they have been for decades.

The Amstelveen Heemparks

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De Braak, nearly 80 years after its construction

Design The design of the Heemparks is grounded in the styles of English landscape, gardenesque, and picturesque gardening. While almost entirely man-made, the parks are designed to imitate the natural conditions of the area. Rarely are there instances of perfect symmetry, rather the space is laid out irregularly to take advantage of differences in heights and depths.

Like all picturesque gardens, views within the parks are meant to feel and look like a picture. Plants and bridges reflect in the water throughout the site, curving paths guide your eyes and movement through the space, and a variety of native plants provide beauty throughout the year.

< Reflections in the large lake in Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Sites and Layouts The Amstelveen Heemparks consist of three individual parks in close proximity of one another. They are located in the northwest part of the city and cover roughly thirty acres.

Thijssepark

De Braak, Thijssepark, and Landwehrpark 24

Design

Landwehrpark

De Braak

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Dr. Koos Landwehrpark Landwehrpark is the smallest of the three parks, containing only one path running through it and two on either side. It is bordered by Amsterdamseweg to the south, and houses on all other sides. The park contains Molinia meadows, a very rare ecosystem in the Netherlands.

Design

The Amstelveen Heemparks

Dr. Jac. P. Thijssepark: Thijssepark is a long, thin system, wrapping around athletic fields and houses. It reaches to Amsterdamseweg, with both its north and south entrances being accessible from the street. Its north and west borders are the Hoornsloot canal, with its southern border being a smaller, unnamed canal. It is made up of a mostly continuous watercourse with one medium-sized lake in the middle and several smaller ones throughout. The park is made up of individual “garden rooms” (thijssepark.nl), creating a changing experience as visitors move through the space.

Design

The Amstelveen Heemparks

De Braak: De Braak has only slightly more area than Thijssepark, but takes on a more rectangular shape that makes it feel more open. It contains two dominant lakes, De Braak and De Doorbraak, as well as several small canals and a watercourse along its southern border. Its western border is Amsterdamseweg, and the eastern border is a cycling/walking trail built on a historic rail line. The north side is bordered by houses, with an entrance connecting to Amsterdamseweg. Much of the park is modeled after a typical Dutch polder landscape, with De Braak lake being dominated by willows and reed beds.

Design

The Amstelveen Heemparks

Path Design The paths were the first aspect of the parks to be designed, with the vegetation placed around them. The vast majority of the paths in the Heemparks are gently curving, pulling visitors through the space by enticing them with what is around the bend.

Path typologies and entrances in the three Heemparks 32

Design

While most paths in the Heemparks are curving, there are several examples of nearly perfectly straight path segments. Straight pathways occur next to straight segments of canal, emphasizing and working off the structure of the water. These paths have an entirely different atmosphere than the curving pathways, with taller and denser vegetation coming closer to the path to create a greater feeling of enclosure.

Park Entrances Path Breaks/Convergences

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Straight Path Segments

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The most common examples of straight paths are the park entrances. Of the 14 total park entrances, 8 of them are characterized by long, straight paths. As opposed to being met with a wall of vegetation when entering the park, straight paths provide long sightlines so potential visitors can see what lies ahead, and determine if they want to go in. After a long walk through an enclosed space, the transition to an open space further in is even more incredible, and acts as a spectacular way to enter the parks.

Northern entrance of De Braak

Southern entrance of Thijssepark

Seen in Thijssepark and a section of De Braak, pathways are occasionally designed to briefly break and reconverge shortly after. This element provides user choice, as each section of path provides a particular view or takes users through a different atmosphere unique to that pathway. For example, a section of path in Thijssepark breaks into three sections for only about 200 feet, but each section is entirely unique. The northern path meanders through a dense grove of hardwood trees, made up of some of the largest individuals in the park. The central path brings users to a vista at the highest point in the park, with wide views over the water and surrounding vegetation. Finally, the southern path brings users close to the water and through an open meadow. The opportunity to decide which path to take makes each trip to the park different, and much more engaging than if the same path was taken every visit.

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Design

A unique type of a path break/reconvergence, there is only one example of parallel paths running immediately next to one another. While mere feet away, the two paths have completely different atmospheric conditions.

Both examples are running parallel to water in Thijssepark, however the water is only visible from one of the paths. Choosing one path brings you through a bright, open area dominated by low-growing perennials and the occasional Betula tree, with clear views to the dark black water. Choosing the other places you in a continuous corridor of overarching Amelanchier trees, noticeably darker and cooler than the parallel path. The density of the surrounding vegetation blocks the majority of your views outside, and one would have no idea that there was water only a few feet away. Having drastically different spaces so close together gives park visitors the benefit of choosing how they want to experience the site.

View to the Bedstropad, the highest point in the park. There is also a path below it running parallel to the watercourse and a path behind it in the dense woods The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Circulation Dr. Koos Landwehrpark Landwehrpark is the smallest of the three Heemparks, and is used primarily as a path between Amsterdamseweg and residential homes. It can be utilized as a connection between the northwest entrance of De Braak and the northeast entrance of Thijssepark.

Dr. Jac. P. Thijssepark: Thijssepark is long and thin, wrapping itself around a residential neighborhood on three sides. The paths are designed to draw people through the space, taking users through unique “garden rooms” (thijssepark.nl) as they pass between closed and open spaces. As previously discussed, there are several opportunities within Thijssepark to choose the exact path one takes, but they will always reconvene at the same point. This allows for unique experiences, but still pulls visitors through the narrow site. One could loop through the site, but reverse curves encourage moving forward rather than turning around. The paths run roughly perpendicular to the site boundaries, and consist of minor, flowing curves that entice visitors with what is around the bend, further pulling them through the park.

In Thijssepark, gentle curves draw site visitors forward, pulling them through the site 36

Design

De Braak: De Braak is slightly larger than Thijssepark, as well as wider and more open. Thijssepark feels like one continuous experience, while De Braak is broken into several component parts by watercourses - namely the lakes De Braak and De Doorbraak - that can be fluidly moved between. Each section can be visited by site users, or completely bypassed by taking another route. Paths are designed in a loop that cycle users through the space and allow them to experience it in different ways. De Braak also utilizes reverse curves to move site users through the park, guiding them in an intended direction without the need for directional signage.

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Circulation patterns in De Braak

Open and Closed Spaces The Heemparks are designed to be constantly changing, with paths regularly moving between closed and open spaces. The types and uses of vegetation within these spaces vary greatly between the three parks, as well as within each individual park, but are generally defined by their vegetative height and density. Enclosed spaces are dominated by dense trees and tall shrubs, and an understory layer with relatively low diversity. Open spaces are mostly free from large trees other than specimens, are dotted with individual or groups of shrubs, and emphasize a diverse mix of low shrubs and perennials.

Having a mix of closed and open spaces allows for the wide range of native plants that grow within the parks. If the parks were entirely wooded, The Amstelveen Heemparks

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there would not be enough sunlight for heather and other perennials to grow. Similarly, if there were only open spaces, there would be minimal opportunities for large trees and shade-loving plants that thrive in wooded understories. While the same diversity could be achieved by having one park be open and another be closed, the design decision to alter between these space typologies within each park is one of the Heempark’s defining characteristics. Instead of a large area of meadow where everything blends together, smaller pockets of meadow in between wooded areas

Open

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Open and closed spaces in Thijssepark 38

Design

allow individual mixes of plants to stand out. One section could have entirely unique plants from another section only a few hundred feet away, but the separation allows them to be their own spaces without plants mixing or out-competing each other and reducing diversity. Similarly, having pockets of woodland rather than an entire, continuous park allows for each area to utilize its own species. It also helps individual specimen trees stand out, which might otherwise blend into the space as a whole.

Transitions Between Spaces The frequent changes between being within open and enclosed spaces as site users move through the parks is a crucial design and atmospheric element. As conditions shift between enclosed and open, the transitional spaces act as an ecotone that blend the two typologies seamlessly together. Rarely will you find instances of harsh and immediate changes, such as stepping out of dense woods directly into a heather meadow.

Rather, the conditions smoothly combine, allowing for a fluid transition.

This is accomplished by strategically adjusting plant placements, heights, and densities.

Starting in a wooded area, these spaces are often characterized by taller vegetation, tree trunks close to the pathway, and low-diversity mixes of low perennial vegetation. The canopy arches over the path, darkening the space and emphasizing the sense of enclosure. Further down the path there is an open meadow, characterized by a central canopy limited to specimen trees with taller trees relegated to the edges, individual or small groups of shrubs scattered throughout the space, and a ground plane dominated by low-growing shrubs and a high diversity of perennial vegetation. A transition between these two spatial typologies requires simultaneously reducing height and shifting density away from pathways, and vice versa when entering the enclosed space from the open space. By doing this, the spaces slowly blend together instead of a wall of vegetation separating closed and open spaces. A dense Betula stand gradually reduces and disperses its number of stems as it moves into a Vaccinium bog. A hardwood forest shifts from emphasizing large, dominant trunks near the path to tall trees acting as recessed barrier around a Calluna meadow. It is possible to have two entirely unique spaces directly next to each other without either feeling out of place, and well designed and managed transitions are critical to doing so successfully.

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Conceal and Reveal Conceal and reveal is one of the primary design techniques utilized to draw users through the Heemparks. This requires deliberate placement of plants corresponding to the bends in pathways. Vegetation will initially block a view, enticing site users to progress forward to see what is on the other side. Without trees and shrubs blocking views, the windings paths would not have nearly the same effect, as users would be able to see what was ahead of them regardless of the shape of the pathway.

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Photo Locations on Heidepad in Thijssepark

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Conceal and reveal in Thijssepark: Each time a view is opened, another one is placed around a newly-revealed bend, drawing the users through open and closed spaces 40

Design

Conceal and reveal is also utilized to direct the site user’s eyes to particular viewsheds or vistas. An example found in Thijssepark has a path lined in Myrica shrubs. Initially blocking views on both sides, one row eventually ends while the other briefly continues. The site user’s eyes are directed away from the dense vegetation and towards the intended view, which in this case looks across a heather meadow to a small lake. Vegetation is frequently utilized within the parks to block a particular view and turn attention to a more picturesque view, most often towards water.

Viewsheds and Vistas Designed in the style of picturesque gardens, each point within the Heemparks is intended to be viewed as a picture. As a result, the Heemparks are full of vistas and viewsheds which look over incredibly beautiful spaces year-round. One common space where vistas occur is within transitions between two spaces. As visitors move from one space into another, they are met with a narrow view of the proceeding space that increases as they move forward until they are fully immersed in the new area. Vistas are important elements for park entrances as well, offering potential visitors a view into the space and allowing them to determine if they want to enter.

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Another common location are spaces where visitors can look across a lake or other waterbody. Bridges, for example, have vegetation grounded on either side of them, while the structure itself is free from any obstructions. This provides a clear view across the water and to the surrounding banks. Similar views can be found at bench locations, which have low-growing vegetation in front of them to provide clear views to the water.

Other opportunities to view the water from pathways open and close as the water is concealed and revealed by ferns and other vegetation along the banks.

View to bridge

View from bridge

View to the Amsterdam Forest from Thijssepark 42

Design

Most of the views are focused within the parks, but there are several examples of areas offering views outside of the parks. Normally views to spaces outside of the parks are intentionally blocked, especially when there are buildings or athletic fields that would diminish the “natural” atmosphere of the Heemparks. There are, however, several instances in Thijssepark where views outside of the parks are intentionally framed, showing the Hoornsloot canal as well as the Amsterdam Forest. Offering these borrowed views opens up the space and makes it feel larger.

Architectural and Ornamental Uses of Plants Plants found in the Heemparks were initially chosen due to them being Dutch indigenous species that thrive in peat soil. Their individual applications were chosen based on their aesthetic values, ability to be pruned, and other characteristics relevant to the park’s design and management.

The ability to tolerate heavy pruning is a critical requirement for most of the trees planted in the Heemparks in order to successfully manage their heights with Amstelveen pruning (see pg. 72). Tree species including field maple (Acer campestre), common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), and European ironwood (Carpinus betulus) can be cut back substantially, and will continue to grow. These species form an important layer of trees within the parks that are consistently cut back under their mature height, as to allow light into the understory. This allows the mature feel of a forest without the dense canopy that would shade out many of the perennial species found growing throughout the parks.

While a majority of shade trees in the Heemparks are pruned, specific individuals are allowed to reach their full height. This provides the parks with the structure and stature only attainable with a mature tree, but limiting the number allowed to reach this height ensures the parks do not become overcrowded and that ample light still reaches the understory. This limitation also makes the mature trees even more unique and important specimens, standing out among the shorter and lower caliper trees around them. The most common species found growing to their full height are English oak (Quercus robur), white willow (Salix alba), and European beech (Fagus sylvatica). However, the most commonly pruned species are occasionally allowed to reach their mature heights, adding forms and textures that would be lost if every individual was pruned.

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Mature hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Pruned hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Several species can be found with more than one application, most notably downy birch (Betula pubescens). Birches can be found in several combinations ranging from monocultural stands, to groupings, to specimen individuals. Each creates a different atmosphere while still emphasizing the tree’s pure, white stems. Others like serviceberry (Amelanchier lamarckii) can be found scattered in wooded understories or as dense allées encompassing pathways.

Betula stand 44

Design

Betula grouping

Betula specimen

“Trunk Impression” is the goal of having tree trunks stand out from their surroundings and not covered by vegetation. Since mature trees are highly valued within the Heemparks, extra effort is given to ensure that their trunks are not obscured by surrounding vegetation or their own low branches so they stand out all the more. Trunks show through the foliage from a distance and are visually dominant as specimens when close to the path. Without trunk impression emphasized, mature trees would be substantially less visible and their scale, structure, and textures would fade into surrounding vegetation, reducing their impact on the space.

Covered vs Uncovered trunk impression

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) in De Braak stands out from surrounding vegetation to emphasize its smooth, gray trunk, as well as its mature form The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Water By far, one of the most dominant visual and design features in the parks is water. Characteristic of the Netherlands as a whole, canals and manmade watercourses are found in each of the three Heemparks and are important to a range of design elements in the park. First, they act as physical barriers for the parks. De Braak and Thijssepark each have boundaries defined by water, Thijssepark’s edges being defined primarily by the Hoornsloot and other canals.

Pathways within the parks almost always work off of the watercourses, frequently running roughly parallel to them to provide views to and across the water. As paths gently curve and transition through different vegetative typologies, they offer regular views of the water. However, water is not always visible while walking along it. This maintains the technique of conceal and reveal, drawing people along the water’s edge seeking out the next view rather than never losing sight of the water once one reaches it.

Furthermore, if there was no vegetation along the banks of watercourses, the view across would be devoid of variation and would be far less visually interesting.

View across the pond in De Braak 46

Design

A classical technique in picturesque gardens, the water is regularly utilized to create reflections of trees and bridges, emphasizing elements such as the pure white trunks of Betula trees. This technique works especially well in the Heemparks, as the peat soil darkens the water and makes the reflections even crisper and more colorful.

Reflections in the pond in De Braak The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Reflections in the large lake in Thijssepark Design

The Amstelveen Heemparks

Built Elements Throughout the Heemparks there are several different types of man-made objects. Whether they are in the parks out of necessity like pathways and bridges, or in order to enhance visitor experience like benches and certain signage, they all fit into the system in a deliberate way.

Bench locations within the three Heemparks 50

Design

N .25 km View to Water Bench Location

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Benches There are twenty-nine total benches throughout the parks. They are primarily made of wood and are placed most frequently at areas with viewsheds. Twenty-one of the twenty-nine benches have a direct view of water, while the majority of the others are located at or near a path convergence.

The parks are designed to be strolled through, so benches are not a major component. Those who do use the benches tend to stay for a significant amount of time to rest and enjoy the view.

Trash cans Trash cans are located next to most of the benches in the parks, as well as several entrances. They are gray or dark blue, which allows them to fade into the background and not be obtrusive. While they are not a particularly attractive built element, they are important for keeping the space clean.

Perennials bloom around a bench in Thijssepark

Bridges Bridges are one of the few built elements in the park that are designed to be highlighted. Easily seen across watercourses in Thijssepark and De Braak, they also benefit from reflections in the water like the surrounding plants. The bridges in Thijssepark are short, only crossing distances less than ten feet, and very simple in design. Those in De Braak cover a much longer distance and have railings as a result. The railings, however, are not 52

Design

designed to look like a safety element, but are an enticing design element with tree branches being used for the balusters.

Bridge to Het Eiland in De Braak

Signage There are several different types of signs found in the Heemparks, each with a unique design and impact: • Entry: Entry signs differ from most of the other built elements in the parks by being designed to stand out. While most others recede into their surroundings to not be visually obtrusive, the entrance signs are meant to be seen and draw people into the parks. They are colorful and even reflective so they are visible from the streets at night. They are located at every park entrance.

• Informational: Informational signs are at or close to the beginning of one entrance of Thijssepark and one of De Braak, both of which correspond to the walking tour route. The signs contain a map of the park, fliers, and pamphlets. They are similarly designed to the entry signs, and are meant to stand out and attract people’s attention • Directional: The directional signage in the parks are made of wood with the path names are burned into them and are attached to a wooden pole by black wrought iron. Being made mostly of wood, they fit in with the environment and do not feel out of place • Warnings and Restrictions: There are only a few instances of warning signs in the parks, mostly occurring near water. The signs are as small as possible to fit the warning message on them, and will likely not be seen by most park patrons.

The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Entry signage

No dogs allowed

Directional signage 54

Design

Informational signage

No bicycles allowed

No fishing allowed

Informational brochures

Pathways There are three types of pathways in the parks. Nearly all of them are made of light red crushed stone. They are stable and accessible, but do not feel “unnatural” like a paved pathway would. Both of the other path types are only utilized in specific spots. Fern cuttings are found on two secondary paths in the northwest portion of Thijssepark. This material is often noticeably wet and would not work well for primary paths. Stepping stones are utilized in an isolated area of Thijssepark that is frequently flooded. Similar to the fern cuttings, they are beneficial in their particular application but would not be practical if used on a large scale.

Primary pathways

Stepping stones

Fencing Fencing is rarely used in the parks, only occurring in one spot in Thijssepark and in Landwehrpark. They are all wooden, and are utilized to prevent people from walking into specific areas. The area is Thijssepark that is behind a fence is one of the only sections with grass, which puts it in greater danger of being walked on than spaces with taller vegetation.

Fencing in Landwehrpark

Fencing in Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks

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View to the large lake in Thijssepark

Ecology In addition to the benefits of public open space provided to people, the Heemparks have substantial ecological value. Broerse, with the horticultural expertise of Landwehr, designed the parks with a comprehensive understanding of how Dutch natural systems worked, and translated many of their benefits to the parks.

< Meadow crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense) and other perennials in Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Soil Soil is the most important component of the parks. When the design of De Braak began, the site was found to be made up of inundated, nutrient-poor peat, which made it unsuitable for the ornamental plants traditionally used in landscape design (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg. 10). Instead of amending or replacing the soil, Broerse worked within the limitations of the site by utilizing native plants that were naturally adapted to the local conditions. This strategy was utilized in each of the three parks, resulting in landscapes that felt natural despite being almost entirely man-made.

Peat soil poses unique challenges that require constant maintenance. The naturally low nutrient content requires a majority of leaf litter and other organic matter to be removed, otherwise the soil nutrients will increase and weeds will have an easier time taking over. The peat also naturally lowers over time, requiring areas within the park to be restarted every few decades (see pg. 89).

Significance of Native (Heem) Plants The Heemparks utilize native Dutch plants as one of their most defining characteristics. With species naturally adapted to the local conditions, the plants thrive and provide ecological benefits comparable to naturally occurring systems. The use of native plants is particularly important within urban areas, where habitat and natural systems are far less prevalent. Most urban parks contain large areas of grass and exotic ornamentals, neither of which provide substantial ecological benefits. Instead, the unique assortment of native plants presents wildlife and habitat value not found anywhere nearby.

Within De Braak there is a small section known as the exotic corner, which is the only space in the park with dedicated ornamental plantings.

Non-native species such as the North American bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), Asiatic rhododendrons and azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), and southern-European horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) can be found planted within this space. A stark contrast from the assemblages of native species, this area provides a noticeably different texture from the rest of De Braak and the other parks.

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Ecology

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)

European mountain ash (Sorbus aucupar)

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.)

European goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea)

Designing Nature The original intention of Chris Broerse when he began to design De Braak was to reproduce native plant communities, but on a smaller scale. While he was unable to do this to the degree he wanted to, his goal of mimicking nature is one of the most critical aspects of the park and what makes it so unique. The plant combinations are not exactly as they would appear in nature, but are informed by plant sociology, which categorizes plant communities through associations consisting of one or more dominant species and a collection of less-frequently occurring species (Enchanted Heemparks, 2014, pg. 14). By making decisions that are derived from natural communities but that are not precisely the same, the Heemparks benefit from a picturesque designed landscape that provides ecological benefits comparable to a naturally-occurring system.

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Located in De Braak, the area around Taxodiumpad is the only space within the Heemparks dominated by deliberately planted exotic species

Biodiversity Unlike many urban parks that tend to be characterized by monocultures of grass or ornamental vegetation, the biodiversity found within the Heemparks provides a high level of ecological value. With a range of trees, shrubs, and perennials that flower at different times of the year and fill different ecological niches, there is almost always something providing wildlife value for the fauna that rely on the parks.

With over four hundred species growing within the parks, the Heemparks act as a Dutch botanical garden. However, unlike typical botanical gardens, the plants are not singled out with signs identifying them, rather they are left to grow in different mixes throughout the parks. Some of the species found in the parks are now locally or even functionally extinct in the wild, making the Amstelveen Heemparks one of the last places in the world that rare species like marsh St. John’s wort (Hypericum elodes) can be found growing.

A variety of understory plantings found throughout Thijssepark

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Ecology

Succession and Competition Natural succession, competition, and self-seeding are carefully managed in the Heemparks. The parks are dynamic, living systems that grow and change, so it is recognized that the vegetation will seed and spread. Plants can spread within the areas that they are supposed to be in, but will be reduced if they begin to outcompete others. Species from other areas of the park are always removed in order to maintain the original design intention.

Invasive species and aggressive species like grasses are also removed so that species that would otherwise be outcompeted are able to survive and the park’s biodiversity can be maintained.

As discussed in the design chapter, shifting between open and closed spaces rather than having large-scale areas of just open or closed allows for a high diversity of plants. If a meadow was planted in a large area, it would be far more difficult to manage for a diversity of species or to allow certain areas to retain certain species. Stronger species would outcompete weaker species and diversity would eventually lower. While this happens regardless of the size of the area, the Heemparks have smaller areas of each space typology which allow for unique assortments of plants and that are more easily maintained. If two groupings of species were planted within a continuous meadow, they would eventually mix and diversity would change as plants seeded and competed with one another. If two mixes of species were planted in two separate meadow areas bisected by a wooded area, the chances of the two groupings mixing together would be lower, allowing each to be managed individually and retain their intended compositions for longer.

While the opportunity to isolate plantings can be a positive, mixing ecotypes like meadows and woodlands presents a separate issue: succession. With groupings of mature trees and shrubs bordering the meadows within the Heemparks, they are constantly dropping Quercus, Alnus, Carpinus, and other seeds that, if left unchecked, would quickly transform them into more woodland. Tree seedlings are almost always pulled out, with European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) being the only tree in the parks that is occasionally allowed to grow without being deliberately planted. However, this is only allowed in wooded areas - they are pulled like any other tree if they begin to invade open areas.

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The Heemparks heavily contribute to Amstelveen’s urban ecology, providing habitat that would otherwise be limited or absent from the city. Planes flying overhead are one of the few reminders that the parks are within an urban context 66

A low-flying plane over Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Van Leerpad in De Braak

Management The Heemparks are exceptionally important and unique, and have been providing invaluable open space to the residents of Amstelveen for more than eighty years. However, the beauty and ecological diversity of the parks is only possible with particular and dedicated management.

< Restarting an area in De Braak The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Maintaining a Feeling, Not a Design Many designed landscapes have a dedicated planting plan and the site is maintained to reflect it exactly. In the years and decades after the design is realized, it is expected that plants stay in their designated spaces. Planting beds maintain their intended compositions and any trees and shrubs that die have a new plant of the same species put in the exact same spot.

Conversely, the Heemparks recognize that the site is a living, dynamic system. The goal of the park’s management is not to keep everything exactly where it is supposed to be, but to preserve a general composition and atmosphere.

New species are planted, others taken out. Herbaceous species self-seed and grow in new areas each year. There are rarely pure monocultures that need to be maintained, rather groupings of species that may see more of an individual one year than another as they grow and spread. Maintenance is done to ensure that no species are outcompeted, preventing grasses and other invasive species from reducing the diversity that makes the Heemparks so unique. Decisions are not made according to a precise schedule. Neither species placement nor diversity are determined by an exact planting plan. Pruning is not done to a designated height. All of these decisions are made by gardeners with a comprehensive understanding of how the system works, how they want it to feel, and what needs to be done in order to maintain this feeling.

Amstelveen Pruning One of the park’s most important management techniques is a unique style of pruning that originated in Amstelveen. The only other places that it is practiced are areas that are trying to recreate the conditions of the Heemparks, such as the Dutch city of Zaltbommel. The technique involves removing the central leader of hardwood trees, effectively preventing them from growing into a full tree. The primary goal of this technique is to allow light into the understory of the parks, without which the high diversity of perennial understory vegetation would be impossible. Many trees in the Heemparks undergo Amstelveen pruning, which can sustain them at heights anywhere from under five feet to more than thirty for decades. A select few trees throughout the parks are allowed to reach their full height, retaining mature forms in a system dominated by shorter trees.

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Initially, Amstelveen pruning can be obtrusive, and even look like the trees are as good as dead. However, the species are known to respond to the pruning extremely well, and within a year will send out new growth that can completely obscure the cuts. As long as the pruning is kept up with and done precisely, the lifespan of the trees will not be significantly altered.

Whenever possible, the decision to prune a tree should be made early to ensure the success of the procedure and the long-term health of the trees. In the instances that a larger tree is being considered for pruning, the chances of survival are lower than a younger tree. In this situation, there are possible positives and negatives to deciding for or against pruning, and a decision has to be made that impacts the future of the area: • Leave the large tree as it is: This ensures a longer lifespan for the tree, but continues to block sunlight from getting to the ground and lowers the understory diversity as a result.

• Remove the tree entirely: Allows light into the understory, but removes the element of trunk impression and the scale of the large tree from the space • Attempt to prune the tree: The best possible outcome allows light into the understory, while maintaining trunk impression and the scale of a mature tree. While this decision can also result in the death of the tree, it is often decided that the potential benefits are worth the risk. Even if the tree does not survive the pruning, the trunk can still be kept to provide visual benefits as well as ecological benefits for birds and insects.

Unsuccessful mature tree pruning

Successful mature tree pruning The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Topped trees have a dual value of allowing light into the understory, but still maintaining their large trunks that give the atmosphere of a mature forest in a small space. If every tree grew to its full, natural height, the existing density of plants would not be feasible, as each plant would be competing for too little space, nutrients, and sunlight. The diversity of species would also not be possible, with many species in the understory of the parks requiring sunlight that would not reach the ground if the trees were allowed to reach their full heights and spreads.

While the primary goal of Amstelveen pruning is allowing sunlight into the understory, over time it can result in unique ornamental value. Many trees in the parks have been pruned to heights much lower than they would naturally grow to for decades, which when done properly can result in incredible bonsai-like forms. These forms are only highlighted in certain situations, usually after years of growth and dedicated management. More frequently they fade into the background as part of the characteristic texture of the system rather than being shown off as specimens.

Form of a hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) after decades of Amstelveen pruning 74

Management

Fresh pruning cut on a young hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Diverse range of forms of trees that have been managed with Amstelveen pruning The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Amstelveen pruning a field maple (Acer campestre) in De Braak: Before, roughly 15 ft tall and dominating the sub-canopy 76

Management

After, under 5 ft tall. Gap in the canopy lets more light in, and views further back into the space add depth The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Other Pruning Pruning has several other important applications in the Heemparks, and is one of the most important pieces of maintenance for the visual enjoyment of the system. Overgrown spaces quickly become cluttered and overly dense, blocking important views throughout the park. Pruning helps to ensure that certain views remain unblocked and notable visual elements are unobscured. One of the most common instances of this is ensuring clear views to water. With water being such a critical element (see pg. 46), significant value would be removed from the parks if water was not visible. When trees and shrubs grow above eye-level, it is necessary to prune them down to maintain these important sightlines. The same techniques are undertaken to improve views to the interior of the system, which adds depth and variance to the space. Pruning is also utilized with regards to trunk impression. When there is a large tree trunk in an area of the park, surrounding vegetation is pruned to ensure unobscured views to the trunk, adding depth and visual interest to the space. Pruning goes on year-round, but most major pruning (Amstelveen or otherwise) is done in the autumn and winter when the forms of the trees and shrubs are not obscured by foliage.

Shrubs are pruned to various heights to avoid “green walls,” which refer to dense, continuous areas of plant materials. When shrubs are pruned to the same height it makes the maintenance much more apparent, creating a hedge of vegetation that would not exist in a natural system. While green walls are discouraged in most areas of the park, they also have deliberate applications in others. They are most visible and common in Thijssepark, being utilized to block undesirable views to spaces that take away from user’s immersion in the parks. Thijssepark is bordered by homes and athletic fields, and both of these spaces are blocked by vegetation.

Weeding Without question, one of the most important aspects of maintenance in the Heemparks is weeding. While a simple task, it is what preserves the park’s biodiversity from being overtaken by weeds. The gardeners estimate that a consistent 80% of weeds must be removed before they seed, otherwise they will spread too quickly to manage. With the level of diversity in many areas of the parks, weeding requires an exceptional knowledge 78

Management

Myrica hedge in Thijssepark before pruning - green wall blocking views

Myrica hedge after pruning - views to bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) opened The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Vista pruning in De Braak: Before. Branches obscure views of the canal 80

Management

Vista pruning in De Braak: After. Small changes may not be immediately visible, but can have major impacts on the atmospheric conditions of the space The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Trunk impression pruning in De Braak: Before. Overgrown Carpinus is obscuring the trunk of a mature alder (Alnus glutinosa) 82

Management

Trunk impression pruning in De Braak: After. Removed branches clearly reveal the mature trunk, as well as adds depth to the space by opening views further back The Amstelveen Heemparks

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of plant identification to ensure that everything considered to be a weed is removed, and that nothing planted is accidentally taken out. Weeding is an extremely delicate process, being undertaken with only a weeding knife. This tool allows for the precision removal of the roots of even single blades of grass and does not damage the individuals surrounding it. Neither shovels nor hoes are used, both of which would do damage to the delicate soil profile.

Mowing One of the few maintenance strategies that utilizes more than hand tools, mowing is a critical strategy to controlling succession and weeds. Mowing occurs every year, either in the fall or just before plant growth starts in the spring. The reed beds in De Braak and the entirety of Landwehrpark are cut back in the fall in order to curb the growth of woody vegetation. If more than a year went by between mowings, the seedlings of Alnus and other trees would already have stems too thick for the mower to pass over without damaging it. The other areas retain their vegetation until the spring to give winter interest to the parks.

Landwehrpark before fall mowing

Landwehrpark after fall mowing

Removal of Established Vegetation While much of what is removed from the parks is either cuttings or weeds, there are instances where established trees, shrubs, or perennials may be removed. These decisions may be made due to either ecological or aesthetic concerns, depending on the situation. Shrubs and large ferns are occasionally removed in order to open a space or open a viewshed that had been closed. Perennials may be removed if it is determined that there 84

Management

Cutting of the reed beds in De Braak The Amstelveen Heemparks

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are too many of one species in an area and they threaten the diversity of the entire space. For example, a section of Thijssepark saw roughly 80% of the perforate St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) in an area removed to ensure that it wouldn’t take over in the coming years. With aesthetics in mind, some were still kept to provide winter interest from the seedheads.

A tree may be removed if it is growing too close to another and is reducing its chance of survival. A tree might also be removed simply if it is deemed to not be adding enough value to the space. While removing a mature tree is a big decision that is not done in haste, the Heempark gardeners believe that these big decisions are important for maintaining the atmosphere of the system as it grows and changes. They have determined that sometimes the only way to make the change that the space needs is to remove a major element. They acknowledge that they are not always right, but more frequently are happy with their decisions and find that they improved the space. This is another testament to maintaining a feeling instead of a design; if the system remains perfectly static over time, opportunities to change and improve the space may be missed.

Mature Betula removed from Thijssepark 86

Management

Dead Vegetation Tree trunks that are deemed structurally sound and don’t pose a threat to park visitors are kept for as long as possible. Even when dead, they still maintain the benefit of trunk impression. Trunks are also kept for their wildlife value. Dead wood is used by birds and insects for food and shelter, making them an important aspect of the ecological function of the parks.

Some of the snags have information signage on them explaining their value to wildlife, and that they are not resultant of neglect.

While dead trees can play an important role, they are essentially the only organic detritus kept in the parks. The peat soil is naturally nutrient-poor, and the plants growing in the parks are specially adapted to these conditions. If the cuttings from pruning or the leaves in autumn were left on the ground and allowed to be naturally composted, they would add nutrients to the soil that would increase competition from weeds. Vegetation is also removed to preserve the atmosphere, as brush piles strewn throughout the parks give off a cluttered, messy look.

A dead tree in Thijssepark, now functioning as an “insect hotel” The Amstelveen Heemparks

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New Plantings As vegetation dies, it is usually necessary to replace it. Once a tree is lost, a new one is planted as soon as possible. The new individual is planted nearby so it will eventually grow to have a similar stature and effect on the space. Since the goal is to maintain a feeling, the tree will not be planted in the exact same spot, and may not even be the same species depending on the circumstances. If an area of shrubs, groundcovers, or perennials are getting thin or diversity is reducing, new plants can be intermittently planted to regain the desired composition.

There are also instances of new plantings being added for aesthetic value rather than out of the necessity of filling a gap. Since the park is not being maintained in accordance to a planting plan, the locations and species of plants within the parks are decided at the discretion of the gardeners. New perennials are constantly being seeded, tossed into existing vegetation in hopes of adding or enhancing a texture or color. New species may also be added to determine if they would survive in a particular environment so it can be decided if they should be used in greater quantities in the future.

Newly planted cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) plants are clearly individual at first, but will eventually grow into a dense ground cover like the plants around it 88

Management

Restarting Areas Peat is embraced as the native soil of the region, but is not without its drawbacks. The peat naturally lowers over time, and does so even faster when the water table lowers. When this happens, tree roots become exposed and will decline in health more rapidly. Once trees start dying and falling, it is only a matter of time before all the trees in the area will follow. Instead of tackling this on a plant-by-plant basis, there reaches a point where it is decided to completely restart the affected area. This involves removing nearly all vegetation within a dedicated plot and adding new peat.

First, a buffer around the affected area is determined, and all large trees are removed. While trees that are still alive could be retained for several more years, they are chosen to be removed for two reasons: • It is likely that they would only survive for a few more years, and when they eventually fall they would damage or destroy all the new plantings.

• The shade cast by the mature trees would slow or completely prevent the growth of new trees, shrubs, and perennials Whenever possible, Amstelveen-pruned trees and Ilex shrubs are kept.

Both are slow growing and take a long time to get to a substantial size, so losing them would impact the system for decades to come. Keeping them also prevents the space from being entirely emptied out, which would substantially alter the atmosphere of the park.

Restarting in De Braak: Betula trees were removed while Carpinus and Ilex were protected The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Initially, far more peat than seems necessary is added, but this is to account for settling. Once the soil has been restored to a designated height, vegetation is reestablished. Species composition is roughly maintained, but exact locations of the plants do not need to match those that were removed. New species may be added if they work within the context of the area and are deemed to add value to the space. Whenever possible, the new plants will have been grown in the on-site nursery to reduce transplant shock.

Areas may also need to be restarted if weeds outcompete the planted vegetation and take over the space. Despite the best efforts, there are instances where a particular weed spreads too quickly to be taken out, or the maintenance of certain areas take priority and allow others to be overwhelmed. In this situation, the existing peat is stripped to completely remove the weeds and seedbank so they do not immediately return.

While the immediate visual change when an area is restarted is significant, it will fill in quickly and feel like any other part of the park. On average, at least one area is restarted each year, so the parks are constantly in various stages of maturity. As a result, young trees do not feel out of place.

Instead, they contribute to the parks feeling like a “natural” system, with species constantly dying and younger individuals taking their places.

Concealing Management Important to maintaining the atmosphere of “nature” in a designed system such as the Heemparks is concealing the work done to build and maintain the system. While this is only feasible to a certain degree considering the park is a designed space, there are still efforts taken to make the management be as unobtrusive as possible.

The park is consistently having plants die or being removed, and new ones are required in their places. When new trees are needed, one strategy that is utilized to hide the fact that they are planted is to utilize individuals of different heights. A group of only 10-12 feet tall trees would clearly read as planted, while having several different sizes makes the planting less obvious. The placement of the new trees is also important. Geometric shapes, lines, and curves are avoided, with “randomness” as the goal. Another aspect of planting new trees is staking them to ensure that they establish 90

Management

Felling and cutting Betula trees in De Braak

Stripping and replacing peat that had been out-competed by weeds The Amstelveen Heemparks

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themselves. While necessary, these tree supports are a clear sign of human intervention, and take away from the wild atmosphere of the parks.

The supports are only kept for as long as necessary - usually between one and two years - after which they are removed.

Pruning is by far one of the most obvious elements of maintenance in the parks. While it is impossible to fully conceal it, there are some small techniques that help the cuts blend in and fade back. One easy one is making one cut instead of several in a small branch section. If several close branches are removed, an additional cut should be made so there is only one visible wound instead of several. All cuts that are made should be made as close to the branch node as possible, so there is not a long section of branch without leaves protruding. Whenever possible cuts should angle away from the path so the wound is not directly visible. When this is not possible, a final means of concealing the pruning involves rubbing peat onto the cut. Instead of a fresh, white cut that is likely to catch someone’s eyes, the dark peat helps the wound blend in with the bark of the tree.

Maintenance requires the Heempark employees to walk through planting beds, often tracking back and forth many times over the course of the day.

When weeding, kneeling is not allowed to prevent damage to the plants as well as to reduce indentations in the soil. To prevent damage to the plants, delicate steps are necessary and the same path is not taken repeatedly to avoid flattening the vegetation. After the work is completed, the space is raked to cover, blend, and obscure any signs of disturbance. The same is done to the paths to clean up fallen removed vegetation and to smooth over tracks from bikes and carts.

Team Dedication and Knowledge Above all, none of the aforementioned maintenance could be feasible without a highly skilled, knowledgeable, and dedicated team. Many of the Heempark gardeners has some form of background in gardening and goes through training to become familiar with the unique and particular techniques practiced in the Heemparks. Given the complexity of the systems, most gardeners work in only one of the three parks and become experts in them. On average, it takes five years for gardeners to fully learn and master the design and management decisions and be able to make large-scale decisions on their own.

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Working year-round, rain or shine, their dedication is what keeps the parks beautiful and their diverse ecological systems from collapsing. Work in the park requires constant vigilance to take care of issues like weeds before they become significant problems, and persistence to ensure that every aspect of maintenance is taken care of in a given time period. In 2020, the Heemparks celebrated eighty years of existence. Thanks to the efforts of the gardeners from the 1940’s to present day, the system has been able to maintain its exceptional level of diversity and beauty throughout the decades that would degrade most other comparable public spaces. With continuous maintenance, the many ecological and social benefits of the Heemparks will be enjoyed long into the future.

Members of the Heempark team and Gemeente Amstelveen

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Landwehrpark after its annual autumn mowing

Case Studies The value of the design, ecology, and management of the Heemparks can only begin to be truly justified when alternatives are posed. Like a control group in a scientific experiment, the following three examples of other parks in Amstelveen intend to show that the Heemparks are exceptionally unique and important systems, with their design strategies and ecological benefits making them stand out from other local parks. It especially aims to show that the rigorous management of the parks is crucial to their longterm viability, and to show what benefits are lost when management is reduced or altered.

< Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata) allée in Het Amsterdamse Bos The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Het Amsterdamse Bos The Amsterdam Forest and Thijssepark share the Hoornsloot canal as a border, but are entirely different systems. For the purposes of this comparison, only the immediately adjacent area of the forest was focused on, as looking at the entire system would necessitate an entire dedicated study of its own. The most apparent difference is their sizes, with the roughly 33 acre Heempark system being a fraction of the 2,470 acre Amsterdam Forest. As a result, both the design as well as the intended use of the systems are substantially different.

Amsterdam Zuid

Focused Study Area

Heemparks

Amsterdamse Bos Amstelveen

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1 km 2 km

Het Amsterdamse Bos 98

Case Studies

With many more visitors than the Heemparks, the Amsterdam Forest is designed with much larger paths; more than ten feet wide as opposed to under five feet wide in the Heemparks . They are also paved in asphalt to accommodate cyclists and even horseback riders, while the Heemparks are for pedestrians only. The pathways are mostly long, straight segments instead of containing curves and variations throughout. This results in a reduction in visual and experiential variation as visitors move through the space.

Views are not directed or framed in the same way as the Heemparks.

Working off of the long, straight path segments, allées of trees direct views forward. While the Amsterdam Forest is strategically visible from multiple points in Thijssepark, there are almost no opportunities to see Thijssepark from the Amsterdam Forest. Paths in Thijssepark have several points where they bring users directly to the banks of the Hoornsloot canal, but the path parallel to the canal in the Amsterdam Forest is roughly thirty feet away, blocking most views through the dense vegetation.

Amstelveen pruning is not practiced in the Amsterdam Forest, and as a result the understory diversity is almost nonexistent in comparison to the Heemparks. Unlike the meticulous pruning methods practiced in the Heemparks, pruning in the Amsterdam Forest involves large-scale hedge trimming to prevent branches from getting in the way of the pathways. As a result, green walls are present in the Amsterdam Forest to a significant

A bench in Thijssepark, barely visible through the dense vegetation of the forest The Amstelveen Heemparks

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degree. This creates a vegetative barrier, making it more difficult to look into the forest itself.

Open and closed spaces are not found within the Amsterdam Forest as they are in the Heemparks. There will occasionally be a break in the dense canopy, but plantings are not substantially different. As a result, the transitions between these spaces are minimal and do not contribute much to the experience of moving through the system. Conceal and reveal is also

Green wall created by mechanical pruning 100

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not a strategy utilized in the Amsterdam Forest. With the wide path widths and minimal use of curves, there are not the same opportunities to block and uncover views.

The soil in the forest is clay as opposed to peat, so the vegetation is not entirely consistent between the parks. Diversity is substantially lower and non-native species are far more common in the Amsterdam Forest. Ornamental species are minor components, overshadowed by shade trees such as littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), and English oak (Quercus robur). Perennial vegetation is rare, with most of the understory being bare soil, brambles, or regrowth of canopy species.

Water is also a major component of the Amsterdam Forest, but not highlighted in the same way. There are several instances of pathways running parallel to a canal or other water body, but there are few or no opportunities for views to the water through the dense vegetation. Areas where the water is visible are dominated by large patches of lawn. The best opportunities to view water within the park is on bridges, but any other interaction would require walking off of the paths.

Recognizing the substantial scale and intended use differences, this comparison does not attempt to make the case for changing the design or management of the Amsterdam Forest. Rather it intends to show that given their proximity, the Heemparks could easily have been simply an extension of the forest rather than the unique spaces they are today.

Many views of the Hoornsloot are entirely blocked unless the reedbeds are cut

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Path edge in Het Amsterdamse Bos 102

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Pond in De Braak

Path edge in Landwehrpark The Amstelveen Heemparks 103

204-206 Amsterdamseweg Currently consisting of offices and a school, the land at 204-206 Amsterdamseweg was originally a part of De Braak. While most of the property has been changed from parkland to buildings, parking, and mown lawn, there remains a roughly one-and-a-half acre plot of woodland bordering the current site of De Braak.

Landwehrpark

Thijssepark

De Braak Focused Study Area

N .5 km

Amstelveen

204-206 Amsterdamseweg

The paths were designed by Chris Broerse when he was creating De Braak, so they consist of the same gentle curves that characterize the Heemparks. However, the original plantings that allowed for conceal and reveal are no longer present, so site users can see the majority of the site from any point. As a result, visitors are not drawn through the space in the same way they are in the Heemparks.

There is still some evidence of Amstelveen pruning within the site, but time has allowed most trees to reach their mature sizes. As a result, the canopy has closed and light to the understory has been severely reduced, causing a substantial reduction in perennial and shrub biodiversity. The understory is almost entirely limited to English ivy (Hedera helix) or bare soil. The closing of the canopy has also eliminated any variance between 104

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English ivy (Hedera helix) dominates the shaded understory

Minimal understory vegetation leaves most of the system visible The Amstelveen Heemparks 105

closed and open spaces within the space, taking with it the species that require more sunlight than is presently available as well as changing the atmosphere by homogenizing the space. The transition into the wooded area of the property is abrupt, with a mown lawn creating a hard edge.

Management is currently done with machinery rather than with hand tools.

This has resulted in shrubs being pruned into generalist landscape forms rather into naturalistic forms like in the Heemparks. Weeding is done with weedwhackers rather than by hand, which has resulted in the loss of most native perennials and made way for grasses and other invasive species.

Mechanical pruning has resulted in unnaturalistic forms

Water is still an emphasized element, but is far less present than it is within the Heemparks. All the benches within the system face the water, but they are the only spots where the water is directly accessible. There are views across the watercourse to De Braak, where fields of perennials and diverse patches of woods stand as reminders of what the space was once a part of.

Eliminating the dedicated management regime completely changes the design and ecological success of the system. Biodiversity is substantially 106

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lower within this site and the design no longer works as intended without weeding and pruning, which creates a far less engaging, ecologically productive, and beautiful space. This comparison is especially stark with De Braak immediately adjacent: One site continuing its management while the other slowly loses the elements that once made it part of a unique and successful system.

View to De Braak from 204-206 Amsterdamseweg

View to 204-206 Amsterdamseweg from De Braak The Amstelveen Heemparks 107

Understory in 204-206 Amsterdamseweg

Understory in 204-206 Amsterdamseweg 108

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Understory in Thijssepark

Understory in Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks 109

Meanderpark Meanderpark is another heempark in Amstelveen, located roughly 1.25 miles away from the trio of heemparks consisting of De Braak, Thijssepark, and Landwehrpark that make up “the Heemparks.” The eleven-acre park was built in 1966 in the same style of the other heemparks, and until recently was managed with the same techniques (amstelveenweb.com).

The park is bordered by the A9 highway to the south, and downtown Amstelveen to the north. It is a linear park like Thijssepark, but is laid out in a straight line rather than wrapping around other features.

Heemparks

Downtown Amstelveen

N

N

Meanderpark 110

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.5 km

1 km

Unlike the other heemparks, Meanderpark has large areas of mown lawn near the apartment buildings that act as recreational areas for residents.

Paths are paved, and bicycles and dogs are allowed in Meanderpark. The space was historically managed by a team of fifteen, but budget cuts caused the city of Amstelveen to suspend the management of Meanderpark at the dedicated level that it had enjoyed for decades.

Lawns and neatly-edged planting beds like those found in Meanderpark are absent from Thijssepark, De Braak, and Landwehrpark

Designed by Chris Broerse, the pathways within Meanderpark are similarly curved like the other heemparks. There is still vegetation strategically placed at bends that create the element of conceal and reveal, but surrounding overgrowth is beginning to lessen the success of the technique.

Overgrowth is also impacting the site’s biodiversity, as trees that were originally managed with Amstelveen pruning have begun to regrow and fill in the canopy. There are still clear areas of perennial mixes in the understory, but most of the species are struggling with reduced light. The elimination of hand weeding has also caused these and other spaces to be overtaken by reeds, grasses, and other invasives that have further reduced the diversity.

Overgrowth is one of the biggest issues presently impacting Meanderpark. There are remnants of closed and open spaces, but the canopy The Amstelveen Heemparks

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regrowth is beginning to fill the open spaces in. This is also causing the transitions between the remaining open and closed spaces to become less significant. Furthermore, it is resulting in the reduction in trunk impression, causing once prominent trunks to fade into the background or be engulfed by branches altogether. Views that were once directed in a certain direction or that framed a particular scene have been distorted or entirely covered. Variances in height and depth are slowly shifting into the green walls that are managed to be rare in the Heemparks. The original design brought pathways close to the water, but overgrowth of vegetation has eliminated most views of the watercourse within the park. Reflections are still visible where the water is, but are far less picturesque than the pruned and weeded spaces in the other heemparks.

Examples of overgrowth within Meanderpark

With the management of Meanderpark only being reduced within the past decade shows how quickly ecological diversity can be lost. All of the design and planting techniques found in the other heemparks can still be seen, but are degrading in real time as the canopies close without pruning and invasives push natives out without weeding. Meanderpark should act as a clear example of the importance of the management of the Heemparks, as Amstelveen residents themselves can witness the changes within the space and compare it to what once was there mere years ago.

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Conceal and reveal is still present in Meanderpark, but overgrowth has made the space messy and reduced other elements, such as trunk impression

Common features of the other heemparks like Betula stems are still visible in Meanderpark, and can be enhanced with the return of maintenance to the system The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Pond in Meanderpark

Watercourse in Meanderpark 114

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Pond in De Braak

Lake in Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Translation Currently, The Heemparks are exceptionally unique sites. However, they need not be isolated to Amstelveen, and their benefits can be translated to other areas. Compiled from the lessons learned regarding the design, ecology, and maintenance of the parks, this chapter intends to serve as a broad overview of the elements required to create a park similar to the Heemparks in other parts of the world.

< Watercourse in Thijssepark The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Understanding the Site A broad and complete understanding of the site, region, and a variety of other factors that will impact the space is critical to a successful design.

The Heemparks were designed with the goal of working within the framework of native ecosystems which is a primary factor that has contributed to their success. Links to ecological, historical, and social aspects of the site and its surroundings will help it to fit into its community and make it feel as “natural” as possible.

Soil Before any design or planting decisions are made, it is necessary to understand the site’s soil composition. The Heemparks were designed around Amstelveen’s native peat soil, which informed the plant choices. Spaces similar to the Heemparks are possible on any soil type, but likely will have entirely different species as a result.

Plants After the soil is determined, plant choices can be made. It is important to choose species adapted to the native soil rather than amending or replacing it in order to create a “natural” feeling space like the Heemparks. Once the plants that can grow on the local soil type are established, they can be narrowed down based on their ornamental characteristics. If management intends to include Amstelveen pruning, it is crucial to choose tree and shrub species that can tolerate heavy pruning.

Some of the most common and striking elements in the Heemparks, such as the white stems of Betula trees, may not have a native variety in the area the new space is being designed. Instead of designing the space with birches before determining whether or not they are native to the site, the local flora should be used in unique ways that highlight and utilize their structural and ornamental characteristics. Aspects like flowers, bark, and berries can still be highlighted, but will likely be different colors, and textures, and may show at different times. By doing this, it will create an assemblage of plants unique to the area that feel as though they should be naturally occurring in that space.

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Downy birches (Betula pubescens) lining a pathway in De Braak The Amstelveen Heemparks

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Fall foliage of a field maple (Acer campestre) over a watercourse in Thijssepark 120

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Design Many of the core design principles of the Heemparks can be easily translated. Curving paths, conceal and reveal, open and closed spaces, among others, can be utilized regardless of where in the world the project is proposed. The exact application of these techniques, however, must be dictated by the constraints of the site. There are no strict rules as to distances between closed and open spaces, number of benches in the park, nor most other similar element of design. The site will dictate what works, not standards. If an aspect of the design proves unsuccessful, it can be altered. The structure and management of the Heemaprks recognizes that landscapes are constantly changing, and that improvements can always be made.

Management Critical to the success of the newly-established parks is to design with long-term management in-mind. Parks should be designed for management and managed for design, otherwise the original design can quickly fall apart. As seen in the case of Meanderpark (see pg. 110) in the Case Studies chapter, the beauty and biodiversity of a space can quickly be reduced by overgrowth and weeds when upkeep ceases. Management must be employed from the start of the project regardless, but the intensity will depend on the size and complexity of the system. The space can be as complex or simple as the designer wants, but increasing complexity/ biodiversity will necessitate higher levels of management.

Government and Community Support A reality for the Heemparks and all other sites is that a lack of project support can prevent a design from being properly managed or stop it from being installed altogether. Creating a space comparable to the Heemparks is a substantial undertaking that will likely require high levels of initial funding as well as funding for long-term management. Costs can often be a barrier to entry, so support for the projects is often necessary to convince stakeholders that it is worthwhile. Once the project is in the ground, funding must continue. Once again seen in the case of Meanderpark, funding was cut and the resulting loss in biodiversity and overgrowth of vegetation The Amstelveen Heemparks

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was starkly apparent in only a few years. Currently, the Heemparks enjoy high levels of community support, which is critical to maintain their fulltime staff that keep the parks beautiful and diverse. The value of the parks must constantly be proven to ensure their support stays high enough to justify the costs, and any similarly designed parks would have to achieve this as well.

Telling Your Story Critical to receiving much needed government and community support at early stages as well as throughout the project’s life is proving the value and importance of the space to stakeholders. If a stakeholder has not experienced the parks for themselves, they may only see and therefore be deterred by the costs. “Telling your story” helps to portray the benefits of the space that might not be conventionally measurable. For example, the Heempark gardeners frequently boast that they see people enter the parks visibly glum, but are bright and happy once they have spent time walking through them. There is no direct monetary value correlated with this, but telling your story can sell social, ecological, and other similar benefits as priceless and well worth the associated costs.

“Telling your story” is also important with respect to the unique management styles utilized within the parks. Many people would be shocked to see dozens of trees being felled in the middle of the parks (see pg. 89), but once they are explained the importance of restarting areas they can see and understand the benefits for themselves. Talking to residents and explaining the management decisions also creates a rapport that improves community support. When people understand the decisions being made they are more likely to support them, and when they know and trust the people making those decisions they are even more likely to support them.

Sharing Knowledge Once a project has been successfully installed and its management is in-progress, the only thing left to do is share what has been created with the world. While the Heemparks are currently unique to Amstelveen, they are working to share their knowledge and expertise in hopes of their ideas benefiting designs in other areas. The Heemparks have taken in trainees 122

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from around the world, including Canada, Finland, Norway, South Korea, and now the United States. The lessons taught by the gardeners present entirely new ways of thinking, and have the potential to change how designers approach their designs. If the ideas and strategies pioneered by the Heemparks inform successful designs in the future, the generosity of information and knowledge should be continued to be shared in the hopes of impacting as many people and places as possible.

Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) growing next to the pond in De Braak The Amstelveen Heemparks 123

Watercourse in Thijssepark

Heather meadow in De Braak

Reflections in the large lake in Thijssepark

De Braak in spring

Rainy day in De Braak

Summary Initially, I proposed to study how planting design strategies help to create spaces that enhance Rotterdam’s urban ecology, through both human and wildlife benefits. However, after visiting the Heemparks in Amstelveen I chose to complete my study there. The parks fit many of the characteristics that I originally intended to study: It was a park system in an urban context, it utilized unique planting design strategies, and it provided both human and ecological benefits. I refined the study to include management as a key aspect, which turned out to be crucial to a full understanding of how the Heemparks worked.

The study was originally intended to be solely observation-based, but my work at the Heemparks allowed me to interact directly with the gardeners that knew the space better than anyone else. In addition to personal observations, I shadowed the gardeners and participated in the management of the parks myself to gain an in-depth and well-rounded understanding of the design, ecology, and management of the parks. The opportunity to work directly with the Heempark gardeners was one of the most beneficial aspects of the study, as I had the opportunity to see how the management was carried out and ask questions. If I was unsure of how or why something was done, I could ask for an explanation. If I came to a conclusion based on my observations I could ask if it was accurate. Many aspects of the design and management would have remained hidden if I had relied on observations alone, but working with the gardeners revealed aspects of the park that I could never have found on my own.

While this study has covered a wide range of topics and returned a significant amount of information, it only scratches the surface of the wealth of knowledge contained in The Heemparks. The study was undertaken in a mere 8 weeks of the park’s eighty year history, catching the diverse and ever-changing system in an isolated state. The most beneficial change to the study would simply be more time. Seeing changes throughout the year would reveal new aspects of the design and management of the parks that I was not able to see during the time I was there. In addition to going into more depth regarding aspects of the study that I was already looking at, more time would also give me the opportunity to expand what I looked at. I would have loved the opportunity to look at human use of the parks, animal diversity, and vegetation changes over time. I would also break up 134

how I spent my time differently. I spent the first few weeks mostly working with the gardeners on management, and spent the final roughly two weeks focused on the park’s design. I would have benefited from switching between the two to experience both aspects throughout the study rather than one mostly at the beginning and one mostly at the end. Taking more photos would have also been beneficial. When working in the field it was frequently easy to get caught up in what you are doing, and I didn’t always manage to get before photos or take pictures at all. When doing the work for the first time it was sometimes difficult to visualize the changes before they happened and preemptively take pictures for comparisons.

Despite the location of the study being changed and specific aspects being refined, it still allowed me to accomplish the goals outlined in my proposal. Through studying the Heemparks, I gained an understanding of the site’s planting design strategies and how they benefit both human use and ecology. The addition of looking at park management revealed how the space changes over time and the efforts undertaken to control those changes, a crucial aspect of design that will impact my future work.

It is my hope that this study does justice to both the unique and invaluable spaces that the Heemparks are, as well as to the incredible people who have kept it alive and thriving up to this point and into the future. My time at the parks was short, but it gave me the opportunity to learn more than I could have ever anticipated. I will carry these lessons and experiences for the rest of my career, and hope they might help to inspire and inform others as well.

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Acknowledgments First and foremost, I am extremely grateful to the SUNY-ESF Department of Landscape Architecture for running the off-campus program that gave me the opportunity to live abroad in the Netherlands and carry out this study.

The experience was everything I had hoped for and more. The chance to be fully immersed in a new part of the world and a new culture exposed me to ideas and design strategies that have substantially changed the way I think about space and design. Thank you to all of my professors that I have had the privilege of working with and learning from throughout my time at ESF. Special thanks to Jocelyn Gavitt for her continuing support since my first semester in LSA orientation seminar and to Maren King for her guidance as my off-campus advisor.

Thank you to all of my classmates that have become my close friends over the past four years. I am proud to have been a part of an extremely talented and dedicated studio group that always pushes me to do my best work. Thank you to my family, who has always shown support and interest in my passion for landscape architecture and ecology. Special thanks to my parents for giving me the means and opportunities to pursue my interests, and for always taking the time to learn about my field and enjoy it with me.

The biggest and most sincere thank you to the Heempark gardeners and members of Gemeente Amstelveen. The Heemparks are a magical place on their own, but what made my time carrying out this study truly exceptional were the colleagues and friends that I was excited to see every day. Thank you for your generosity with your time and knowledge, as well as your friendship in and out of work that made my off-campus semester such an incredible experience. Special thanks to René Reekers, Josien Kuipers, and Hilde Sijens for the many days spent working together in the field. Without your willingness to show and explain your work to me, much of what I learned would have remained hidden. Most of all, thank you to Walter Busse for his tireless efforts to allow me to conduct this study at the Heemparks, and consistent drive to expose me to as many new experiences and ideas as possible. The lessons I learned will impact my designs for the rest of my career and the memories I made will stay with me for life.

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Bibliography “Europe.” (Municipality, Noord-Holland, Netherlands) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location, www.citypopulation.de/php/ netherlands-admin.php?adm2id=0362.

“Groenrenovatie Meanderpark.” Nieuws: Groenrenovatie-Meanderpark, Amstelveen, 3 Jan. 2007, www.amstelveenweb.com/nieuwsGroenrenovatie-Meanderpark&amp;newsid=54347190.

Hennequin, Henri. “Dwalen Door Dit Prachtige Betoverend Heemgroen.”

Dr. Jac. Thijssepark het Hart van de Heemparken, thijssepark.nl/.

Slagt Ariën, et al. The Enchanted Heemparks of Amstelveen: a Walk through the Heemparks De Braak, Dr. Koos Landwehrpark and Dr. Jac. P. Thijssepark. LM Publishers, 2014.

Photography Credits Walter Busse; pages 17, 18, 35, 52, 58, 64, 68, 69 All other photos taken by the author All basemaps from the open-source map website, opentopo.nl: Aalst, Jan-Willem van. “Netherlands Topo Maps.” OpenTopo.nl, www.imergis.nl/ htm/opentopo800.htm.

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Definitions and Translations • Amstel - River in North Holland which Amstelveen is named for • Veen - “Peat.” The soil in the Heemparks • Gemeente - “Township of” • Braak - “Break.” The name De Braak refers to the breaking of the dike that formed the lake • Inheem - Native or indigenous species • Tuinman/Tuinvrouw - “Gardener” • Het/De - “The” • Zuid - “South” • Weg - “Way.” Frequently seen in street names, such as Amsterdamseweg • Pad - “Path.” Common suffix of pathnames within the parks • Bos - “Forest.” Ex. het Amsterdamse Bos

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