Day 4 - Thursday, March 24, 2022.

12.4 miles - few restaurants & bars, bring water, 4 parks

Visit: CBK Southeast

A: Alternative starting point: Station Bijlmer ArenA

Martin Luther Kingpark > Berlagebrug >

Weespertrekvaart > Rozenburglaan > Reigerpad  > Bergwijkpark > Kelbergenpad > Strandvlietpad > Passtukkenpad > Nellesteinpad > Kraaiennestpad > Kormelinkweg > Kolfschotenstraat > Nelson Mandelapark - Nelson Mandela Monument to be unveiled July 18, 2020 >

Anton de Komplein, CBK Zuidoost > beeld Anton de Kom >  

Bijlmerdreef > (A) Station Bijlmer ArenA > ArenaPark >

De Entree > Holterbergweg > Burgemeester Stramanweg > Weidepad > Molenpad > Binnenweg - Amstel >

Utrechtsebrug - as a symbol for the Edmund Pettus Bridge >

Martin Luther King Park

The park was named after Martin Luther King, Jr. to honor him after his assassination on April 4, 1968. Read more

Walk north-east along Amstel river, cross the Berlage Bridge, past Amstel Station and follow the Weespertrekvaart. 

 Weespertrekvaart is an old barge canal, that connects Amstel river to the Vecht river in the city of Weesp. The canal was laid in 1639, using several other existing waterways: the canal ring of the Watergraafsmeer polder (laid in 1629), the canal ring of the Bijlmermeer polder (laid in 1626), and the small rivers Gaasp and Small Weesp.

Go southeast over Rozenburglaan, Reigerpad, through Bergwijkpark, left Zilvermeeuwpad, right Kelbergenpad, left Strandvlietpad, right Passtukkenpad, Nellesteinpad, ricght Gravestein, Annie Romeinplein, Gooioord, Nellesteinpad to Monument Bijlmerramp.

Southeast, Bijlmer, Bims, Smib: the most colorful neighborhood of Amsterdam. Many Amsterdammers of Surinamese and Caribbean descent, Ghanaians and more than 130 other nationalities live here. In the 60's this was a new residential area with gigantic apartment blocks and a lot of green, a concept that didn't work out very well. Today it is the most vibrant district. Monument Bijlmer Air Crash around the 'tree that saw it all' by Herman and Akelei Hertzberger, commemorates the cargo Boeing 747 that crashed onto the Groeneveen and Kruitberg apartment buildings, on October 4, 1992, causing 43 deaths. Walk south over Nellesteinpad and right via Kraaiennestpad (Kormelinkweg, Kortvoort, Kolfschotenstraat) to the Nelson Mandela Park.

To honor Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013), the Bijlmer Park was renamed after him in 2014. The park was built in 1969 en measures 106 acres. In the park stands the Madiba memorial RONA BOTHA, by South-African artist Mahau Modiksakeng, thanks to the project coordination of CBK Zuidoost. It's a group of 5 bronze faces, based on the faces of inhabitants from the neighborhood. On the pedestal the explanation of Ubuntu: 'We are only human through the humanity of others'. Every summer the famous Kwaku Summer Festival takes place in the Nelson Mandela Park. Walk through the park and then north (right) to the Anton de Kom Square.

Anton de Kom is a hero in Surinam. He was a anti-colonial writer, he wrote We Slaves of Surinam (1934, new edition 2020). He was in the resistance during WWII in the Netherlands and died in a German concentration camp. A statue to honor him is standing on top of the steps at the Anton de Kom Square. He lived in a house on Reestraat 6, (Walk Center). Visit the exhibition at CBK Zuidoost, Center of Visual Arts Southeast, Anton de Komplein 120, where small and large, great art is for rent and for sale. It's the only art institution that has inclusiveness in its DNA. A great place to take a rest (tea and toilet) Walk west via (A) Station Bijlmer ArenA, follow the Burgemeester Stramanweg, right Weidepad and left Molenpad to the Amstel.

During the beautiful 3 mile walk along the Amstel River on Oudekerkerdijk, you can listen to a podcast or a speech by Martin Luther King, find them on the Videos & podcasts page. You will pass the Swan windmill, built in 1638. In the year of 1700 there were 44 mansions along the Amstel River. Nowadays there are only 3 of them left: Oostermeer, Wester-Amstel and Amstelrust. Go underneath the Utrechtsebrug and take the stairs on the right to get onto the Utrecht Bridge.

When walking over the Utrechtsebrug (1954), we think of  the Edmund Pettus Bridge. This bridge in Selma, crossing the Alabama River, was the scene of Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965. State troopers attacked the peaceful marchers with billy clubs and tear gas. After the second attempt that also failed, 'Turnaround Tuesday', the marchers could start two weeks later, this time they got protection by the army. They started on the first day in a group of 3,200 people, and on the fifth day they were 25,000-strong. Near the Capitol of Alabama Dr. King delivered his speech 'How long? Not long!'.

Saliant detail: Edmund Pettus (1821-1907) was a leader, a grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. And this bridge became the national symbol of the civil rights movement. 

Walk the last bit to the Martin Luther King Park.