In a sea of rubber tiles and plastic slides, this playground in Amsterdam is proving why playing it safe isn’t always for the best.
Turning Amsterdam West into Het Woeste Westen (the Wild West), check out the park where children can fish, stick-fight, and play with fire (literally).
Seem dangerous? Not so much as keeping them sedentary…
Get moving in the Wild West
Despite their bicycle-centred lifestyle, Dutch children are less active than ever.
The Wild West isn’t shy in tackling that: go tree-climbing, splash about with water, light up a fire, fight with sticks, and swing from ropes.
“The inspiration, and it really is a huge problem, is that children are hardly moving,” explains local D66 head Rob Hofland to The Guardian.
D66 wants more spaces like the Wild West, encouraging kids to play with more freedom (and naturally a few bruises and scratches).
Throwing (most) caution to the wind
It’s not risk without reason — professionals believe such play can counter rising diabetes and declining motor skill levels in children across the Netherlands.
What’s more, since the Covid pandemic, half of Dutch children prefer indoor over outdoor play.
Playgrounds like the Wild West present challenges for young minds, “and challenge is exactly what you need when you have a developing brain” says Erik Scherder from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
What do you think of the Wild West’s approach? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
