De Gibraltar: A wheelchair-friendly playground in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a range of wheelchair-friendly activities for all ages. One inclusive location for children is De Gibraltar, a wheelchair-friendly playground in Bos & Lommer. With its accessible play structures and cosy café, De Gibraltar is a must if you’re planning a wheelchair-friendly trip to Amsterdam with children.
An inclusive playground “where every child can play”
De Gibraltar is located behind a colourful red mural in a residential area opposite Westerpark. It has lots of elements of a traditional playground — a climbing frame, swings, a slide, and a shed full of toys. What sets De Gibraltar apart, however, is its mission to be a playground “where every child, with or without a disability, can play”.
The wheelchair swing at De Gibraltar
Unlike most playgrounds in Amsterdam, De Gibraltar has a range of wheelchair-friendly play structures. This universal design allows children of all physical abilities to have fun, interact with each other, and feel included. It also provides important opportunities for parents or guardians who use a wheelchair to play with their children in an accessible outdoor environment.
Wheelchair-friendly play structures at De Gibraltar include:
A wheelchair swing
A wheelchair merry-go-round
Accessible sand pit tables
Wheelchair-friendly water play equipment
(Basket) ball hoops at different heights
The wheelchair merry-go-round
The accessible sand pit table
High and low ball hoops in the playground
Wheelchair-friendly café & community centre
As well as the playground, De Gibraltar has a wheelchair-friendly café and community centre. The menu includes coffee, hot chocolate, cakes, tosti’s, Dutch pancakes, and other tasty treats. Prices are kept low to make the café as welcoming and affordable as possible to families on a range of budgets.
A cosy corner of De Gibraltar’s café
In terms of accessibility, the café is largely threshold-free. Ramps are placed where needed. A spacious wheelchair-friendly toilet includes grab rails and a height adjustable changing table. Please note that the photo below was taken before the new changing table was placed; a new photo will be added shortly.
De Gibraltar’s community centre organises a range of weekly activities, including cooking lessons, yoga, crafts, and games. Workshops are run by enthusiastic neighbourhood volunteers. If you’d like to participate and/ or be a volunteer, get in touch with De Gibraltar through its official website.
The toilet at De Gibraltar. Since this photo, a height adjustable changing table has been added.
Planning your visit to De Gibraltar
De Gibraltar is conveniently located at Haarlemmerweg 645-1. It can be easily reached by car and public transportation. There are multiple parking spaces nearby and two disabled parking spaces in front of the entrance. If you’re travelling by public transportation, De Gibraltar is located a 7 minute walk (550 m) from Solebaystraat bus stop and a 6 minute walk (400 m) from the Wiltzanghlaan tram stop.
De Gibraltar is open at various times of the week:
The payground: Monday-Saturday (10:00-17:00)
The community centre: Tuesday (10:00 – 15:00), Wednesday to Saturday (10:00 – 17:00)
The café: Wednesday to Saturday (10:00 – 17:00)
Please note that the opening times may vary during Dutch school holidays.
To find out more about De Gibraltar, go to De Gibraltar’s website or follow De Gibraltar on Instagram.
