Nightfall Brings a Dutch Urban Garden to Life

Night transforms landscapes. Dusk usually signals heading inside. But in this Amsterdam backyard retreat, night is when the garden awakens — subtle movements heard and seen, white blooms shining brighter, scents lingering.

Landscape designer Arjan Boekel transformed an unused back patio in Amsterdam's historic Canal Ring for a working couple. They wanted post-work/weekend relaxation outdoors. A night garden — designed in two months, built in four days.

Before Photo

Clients wanted a garden, not just outdoor house extension. Entertaining, grilling, relaxing — but soft greenery was priority.

Existing space hardly resembled a yard. Neighbor's mature maple littered leaves; pervasive ivy clambered over walls. They started from scratch.

Boekel Tuinen AFTER: "Making an outside living room is one thing, but I wanted real garden feel," says Boekel. "Plants are the only distinctive elements making a room a garden." Half the surface planted, creating two zones: usable hardscape and lush greenery. "Green buffer between outside and inside living rooms."

Homeowners needed storage for tools and surfboards. Twining vines on pergola and green roof on new shed augment garden feel in built features.

Boekel Tuinen — Subtle hardscaping: wood and dark gray concrete tile. Built features frame and support plants without attracting attention. Young garden (completed spring 2012) — eager plantings will fill in.

Visitors enter from above via outdoor staircase off living room. This angle reveals charming shed with living roof — welcome for clients and neighbors. Garden enjoyed at night, from inside, and from above.

Galvanized steel bridge floats over plantings and small water feature to covered seating, traversing green area without dividing it.

Buildings surround all sides. Boekel chose shade-friendly woodland plants — ferns, anemones, hellebores, asters, Aruncus — tolerating shadowy site and suiting inexperienced gardeners.

Boekel Tuinen

Boekel Tuinen — Bright white anemone (Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert') projects through foliage. White flowers prevail, brightening darkest corners.

At just over 320 sq ft, space-saving ideas abound — but composition is key. Everything fits seamlessly, "placed and fitted like puzzle pieces." Maximum use through elements working together and flowing. Built-in table projects off shed; pergola built into shed other side.

Pergola works hard: shelters outdoor sofa, supports climbing star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), holds outdoor lighting.