The best calisthenics parks in Amsterdam West & Zaandam
From pull-up bars to dip stations: these are the spots where you can train outside — with or without a coach.
Amsterdam has dozens of calisthenics parks. From the well-known Rembrandtpark to Westerpark, Oosterpark, Erasmuspark and Sloterpark: the city is full of free, publicly accessible pull-up bars, dip bars and parallettes. Calisthenics maps like calisthenics-parks.com and howtocalisthenics.com list dozens of locations in Amsterdam alone. For Amsterdam West, the park at Laan van Spartaan is one of the more complete options: solid pull-up bars, dip bars, and enough space to train with a group without getting in each other's way.
Zaandam is less well-known, but just as well equipped. In 2024, Darwinpark got a brand-new calisthenics zone, alongside its existing play and sports facilities. There are older spots in Zaandam too, like the street workout park in the Bomenbuurt and the training area near Oude Haven, but Darwinpark is by far the most complete: high bars for muscle-ups, monkey bars, parallel bars and Swedish bars.
What makes a park suitable for training? Not every set of bars is equal. Before picking a park, check a few things: is there a pull-up bar at different heights (for tall and short people alike), are there dip bars next to the pull-up bars, is the ground safe to fall on (rubber tiles or grass, not loose gravel or bare concrete directly under the bars), and is there enough room to train with several people without getting in each other's way. Both Laan van Spartaan and Darwinpark check all four boxes.
Training alone versus training in a group. You can always use a park on your own, for free, 24/7. The advantage of a group class is coaching: someone watching your form live, adapting exercises to your level, and guiding you towards skills like the muscle-up or handstand instead of having to figure out where to start yourself. We run group classes twice a week at both Laan van Spartaan (Amsterdam West) and Darwinpark (Zaandam), and your first class is free.
What if the park is busy or the weather isn't great? Training outside means factoring in the weather, but a bit of rain is usually not a problem — it just makes it more fun. In truly bad weather, we'll let you know in advance. And because we train at two locations, you also have more flexibility in timing and travel distance than at a gym with a single fixed spot.
Finding a park closer to you. If you live further from Amsterdam West or Zaandam, sites like calisthenics-parks.com, howtocalisthenics.com and calisthenicsworld.nl list dozens of other parks across Amsterdam and beyond. A handy starting point, though without a coach you'll miss the direct feedback on your technique that a group class gives you.
Calisthenics is more than training — it's a community too. Amsterdam has one of the more active calisthenics scenes in the Netherlands, with well-known crews who have trained in parks like Rembrandtpark for years. You feel that same energy in smaller group classes too: people pushing each other along, cheering on a first muscle-up, and just enjoying being outside together. For a lot of people, that social side matters just as much as the physical progress.
Come train with us. The best way to find out whether Laan van Spartaan or Darwinpark suits you is to simply join once. Your first trial class is free and no-strings-attached — pick your location and time below.
