For decades the heart of Amsterdam North was a messy combination of two parks (the Florapark and Volewijkspark), a canal and a busy through road. A few years ago the administration decided to drastically change the area to give Amsterdam's northernmost region a fresh, modern look. The two parks were harmoniously merged to create a green oasis nearly the size of the Vondelpark in the Museum district (45 hectares). A large stage for events, concerts  and festivals is also scheduled to open in the middle of the park in the near future, but right now it's already an excellent place to kick back and relax. The landscape of trees and fields is perfect for picnics and plans for walking and biking routes are also in the works.