In 1864 a group of citizens led by Christiaan Pieter van Eeghen established the "Vereeniging tot Aanleg van een Rij- en Wandelpark" (). They bought several hectares of grass-land and marshes at the rim of the city of Amsterdam, in order to create the new park. They assigned its design to the architect Jan David Zocher, and in 1865 "Het Nieuwe Park" (English: "The New Park") was opened free for members of the association and with other citizens paying an entrance fee.