Urban Safari: this is how you find nature in the city
Don't get me wrong, I love Amsterdam and wouldn't genuinely want to live anywhere else, but I grew up in a village (which is next to Amsterdam, so the city was always around the corner) and sometimes I miss that. The space, the greenery, the farms, the silence, those are harder to find in our capital. But not impossible, I've found out, because Amsterdam also has undiscovered spots where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. And that's important, because according to research, 90 percent say they find peace in nature. That need is definitely there, and yet we spend a lot of our time indoors, a large part of which is behind a phone or computer screen.
If you're looking for a good resolution, take the same one as I did: get more into nature. Even if it's just for a short time; a twenty-minute walk, for example, already stimulates the brain and memory. (FastCompany, 2019) I always find it a bit boring to do the same park loop again, but fortunately, that's not necessary. Seedlip, the non-alcoholic spirit brand, has launched the Urban Safari. A really fun route where you also learn something and end with a non-alcoholic cocktail. Sounds good, right? You can find it here.
But of course, I also have some personal recommendations for you. Which ones are they? I'll share them with you, of course.
1. The parks of Amsterdam
This may seem a bit obvious, but I don't mean Vondelpark — quite the opposite, actually. I live near Martin Luther Kingpark and close to Beatrixpark, which are really lovely to walk through in both winter and summer and often so quiet. Recently, I was back in Amstelpark for the first time in years, and I thought it was great again, especially if you're with children (though I enjoyed it just fine as a 33-year-old). So seek out the smaller and/or lesser-known parks, or plan an entire afternoon and go to Twiske, for example. And, save the best for last; Westerpark. In this park, you can do the whole Seedlip Urban Safari where you learn more about nature, how to discover different edible plants, and where to go to end with a non-alcoholic Seedlip cocktail.
2. More greens on your plate
And I actually mean especially on your plate. How do you do that? It starts with your shopping; do it at a farm, like Zorgboerderij De Boterbloem, Fruittuin van West, or Stadsboerderij Osdorp. But even when you go out to eat, you can opt for greens; Michelin awarded ‘the green star’ for the first time last year, among others to restaurant Bolenius — we dined there with Seedlip, who supports this initiative, and it was truly divine.
3. Nature in your glass
I mentioned them above: Seedlip. This botanical brand makes natural non-alcoholic spirits for cocktails. We tasted them, and whether you're doing Dry January or not, these cocktails are really so delicious. For example, they have Seedlip Garden (my favorite), which contains ingredients like mint, rosemary, hops, and thyme. So wonderfully fresh. But Seedlip Spice 94 was also good; it contains oak, grapefruit, lemon, and green cardamom. Check all types and flavors here, because you really want to have this at home. Or taste it yourself, because you can still get one for free at Vesper Bar in Amsterdam until the end of January. My favorite Fir Fizz, for example, or the Chicha Negroni.
4. Maintain your own vegetable garden
And you don't need a big garden for that, okay. Of course, you can rent a small vegetable patch somewhere, but even small containers can get you quite far. And then you have your own watercress or mint at home, how fun is that? And if you do have some time: having your own vegetable garden is really fun. My family has one in Ouderkerk (near Amsterdam), and the tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini always taste so much better.
My resolution is clear: I will really seek out nature more often this year, starting with the Urban Safari Guide. Really a recommendation, and a bonus: you get a free cocktail until the end of January when you visit Vesper Bar in Amsterdam.
