Vondelpark is my second living room. I hang out there almost every day. Doing my business, sniffing out yummie odors and meeting up with friends. There is a lot to do in the park. Playgrounds where dogs meet up, real nice cafés, a doggy pool. Everyone is there. See and be seen.
But there are also little secret places whose beauty is overseen by the masses of visitors. Today I will show you one of them: Sinatra’s bench.
Sinatra was my neighbour and friend. He had not only reached the biblical age of almost 21 years, he was special in many more ways. First of all, he worked. No typical dog jobs like watching the house or chasing the postman away. Sinatra had the looks and he had the brains so he ended up in show business. For more than 20 years he formed a successful team with his owner Hans, a famous TV and radio host.
Sinatra was given to Hans as a surprise present for his 1000th TV show edition. So the studio was his second home from the cradle. Hans was the frontman while Sinatra pulled the strings in the back. They were inseparable, a power couple!
Can you imagine a dachshund living the life of a celebrity? I will never forget Sinatra’s legendary birthday parties. His whole house full of greeting cards and gifts from friends and fans. We felt special to be invited and to be part of his inner circle.
It was well deserved that at the age of 19, Sinatra gained access to the hall of fame of honorable Amsterdammers, getting his very own bench in the Vondelpark. You must know that Vondelpark is not just a park. It is the heart of Amsterdam. Some of the beautiful benches carry the names of the city’s nobles, engraved into solid metal plates so they will be remembered forever.
Sometimes on a quiet Sunday morning, we take a little detour to Sinatra’s bench and settle down for a minute. Then I reach out with my nose, pick up the scent and shed a tear. Because I know for a fact that I can still smell my old buddy.
You find Sinatra’s bench when you enter Vondelpark at Stadhouderskade, third bench on the left side.