Oosterpark in Amsterdam East is a sprawling 44-hectare park established in 1891. The park serves as an important recreational and cultural venue for both the local community and tourists in the city.
The park offers various outdoor activities and is suitable for community gatherings. It includes a spacious pond and well-maintained sports facilities, as well as a variety of plants and trees that enrich the urban landscape.
In addition, Oosterpark has cultural significance with notable monuments and sculptures. The National Monument Slavery Past, designed by Surinamese-born artist Erwin Jules de Vries, is a striking tribute to the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands in 1861.
Another remarkable artwork in the park is "The Scream" by Jeroen Henneman, a modern sculpture 4.5 metres high. This artwork serves as a memorial to film director Theo van Gogh, a distant cousin of the famous painter, who was murdered in 2004. The murder of Theo van Gogh by a Muslim extremist in the nearby street in 2004 shocked the Netherlands, and "The Scream" symbolises Theo's plea for mercy, according to its creator.