“Nature Walks shows you the green side of Amsterdam. You get a different view of the city when biologist and certified nature guide, Mónica Cruz, takes you through the parks of Amsterdam. She eagerly shares her knowledge of the vegetation and animals that live so close to us; although we don’t always notice them. I was thoroughly impressed by her knowledge, as well as by the fact that she speaks five languages (English, Dutch, Portuguese, French and Spanish)!
Getting to know the nature side of Amsterdam
In the Vondelpark – well known to me – Mónica opened my eyes for all the beauty that I normally don’t (consciously) see. At first she seems a bit shy – because she is so soft-spoken – but during the tour, she opened up and talked passionately about the Vondelpark and its inhabitants. She showed and told us about the mating habits of the well-known parakeets, the differences between the nests of magpies and crows, many types of trees and the way they pollenate and propagate. We even spotted a kingfisher! It’s amazing to see how rich Amsterdam’s wildlife is. And to hear the specific stories behind them; such as the story of the famous stork family in Vondelpark.
Knowledgeable, passionate nature guide Mónica
Not only does Mónica have a university degree in applied animal biology and a master in animal behaviour (ethology), she also has a lot of knowledge of the local nature, flora and fauna. Her passion for nature and wildlife is evident in the way she shares her knowledge. She adapted very well to the different knowledge levels of the participants, without dumbing it down too much (oops, I think I just gave away MY knowledge level).
Mónica organises guided nature walks in selected parks across Amsterdam. The tours roughly take one and a half hours. And for groups and companies she creates a tailor-made excursion on request. These nature walks are not just for tourists who have seen the regular highlights of Amsterdam; I am positive that ‘Amsterdammers’ will also enjoy discovering their city in a whole new way. I sure did!
How much more conscious can you get by understanding nature better?
It is quite obvious that nature walks such as these only contribute to a better understanding of nature and wildlife. In no way is the tour of Nature Walks Amsterdam intrusive to the wildlife or plants and trees. Therefore we can only give them 3-ratings on environmentally consciousness and animal welfare.”
“Discover the wildlife that shares the city with you! Take a Nature Walk led by Mónica Cruz and learn more about the ecosystems in Amsterdam.Some tourists come to Amsterdam to smoke weed, drink beer and visit the Red Light District. Of course we know there is so much more to experience. More than 50 musea, tons of great restaurants and cafes, the beautiful architecture. But Amsterdam’s many lovely parks are also some of her finest features. Why not take a Nature Walk and learn about another side of Amsterdam? Residents of Amsterdam can also discover something new on a Nature Walk. Guide Mónica Cruz is trained as a biologist and shares her knowledge about the local trees, plants and animals that live in the parks around the city.
If you live here of course you have seen the bright green parakeets that roost in the trees. But do you know their mating habits? And perhaps you’ve seen the famous storks living in the Vondelpark, but do you know which one is the male and which is the female?
Mónica is a friendly guide with a lot of local nature knowledge. She can tell you how to tell the difference between the different types of trees in the parks and the habits of a small bird you might see in the bushes. She currently leads daily tours in Amsterdam’s parks including Vondelpark, Beatrixpark and Amsterdamse Bos. Check her website for dates and times. Prices are very reasonable and you can join as a single traveler or arrange a private tour with a group of colleagues. Mónica also speaks multiple languages including English, Dutch and Portuguese.
Grab your binoculars and let’s go explore!”
“Our guided walk in Amsterdam Bos (forest) with Monica was very educational and a lot of fun! We both learned how to identify new species of birds, trees, and plants. We also learned about the parks history and formation. Monica knew the ins and outs of the park and was able to show us new spots we had never seen before. She had great tips for viewing wildlife and is a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. I highly recommend going out for a walk with her in any of the Amsterdam parks!”