In the Watergraafsmeer district of Amsterdam-Oost, Frankendael is the only survivor of the fifty or so buitenplaatsen, the country houses that wealthy Amsterdammers built after the polder was drained in 1629. Founded around 1660, the estate takes its name from Izaak Balde, who owned it from 1695, and the house acquired its present appearance around 1733. A national monument owned by the city, Huize Frankendael has been open to the public since 2008. Around it lies Park Frankendael, free and open access: a formal garden, woodland, ponds and vegetable gardens, far from the crowds of the centre.
Highlights
Huize Frankendael and its fountain
The façade facing Middenweg has a tall central block flanked by two lower coach houses, with a fountain adorned with 18th-century sculpted figures in front. Inside, the salons retain their Dutch Louis XV decoration. The house is open free of charge on the last Sunday of the month, from 12:00 to 17:00, with a free guided tour from 12:00 to 13:00, no booking needed.
The formal garden
Behind the house, a garden in 18th-century style has been recreated, with flower beds and clipped box hedges. Excavations in 2003 uncovered the remains of an 18th-century orangery here. Entering from Middenweg, you pass through the classical wooden gate designed in 1783 by the architect Jacob Otten Husly.
The park and its nature
The grounds served as the municipal nursery from 1882 to 1998 and were then turned into a park. It includes a native plant garden, a bird marsh, an amphibian pond, a natural playground, ruins and school gardens; Amsterdam's oldest school garden still in use was created here in 1922. A colony of grey herons has nested in the park since the early 20th century.
Restaurant Merkelbach
Housed in the right-hand coach house, it is named after the city architect Ben Merkelbach, who was given the house as an official residence in 1957; his descendants lived here until 2004. It serves coffee, tea and an à la carte lunch, with a terrace in the garden when the weather allows.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Come on the last Sunday of the month to see inside the house: entry and the 12:00 guided tour are free. Groups can book a guided tour all year round for €50 per group of up to 15 people (prices as of October 2026). The house has no lift and some rooms may be taken by private events. From May to September many weddings take place at weekends, so Restaurant Merkelbach is often closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
How to get there
Huize Frankendael, Middenweg 72, 1097 BS Amsterdam; the park has entrances on Middenweg (through the gate of the house), Hugo de Vrieslaan, Kamerlingh Onneslaan and Nobelweg. Normally, tram 19 serves the Hugo de Vrieslaan stop on Middenweg. Because of works on Linnaeusstraat and Middenweg, from 27 April 2026 to 11 December 2027 tram 29 (Oostpoort-Diemen Sniep) stops at Hugo de Vrieslaan instead, which is also served by bus 65; the Oostpoort stop is about 700 m on foot from Muiderpoort station, which tram 19 serves. Check your journey on the GVB website or app before setting off.
Opening hours
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