Amsterdam  - It is remarkably still in Jan L. M. Meulendijk's garden which lies behind the stately facades along the Herengracht canal in the centre of Amsterdam.

For this is one of the city's most enchanted hidden spaces where from March to October the countless blooms usher in each new season with a vivid display of colour.

"People sometime say this is one of the most beautiful gardens on the Herengracht," says Meulendijk with obvious pride. Along with the owners of other impressive private homes and institutes, he opens his hidden green oasis to the public just once a year during the city's Open Garden Days, the Open Tuinen Days which run from June 19th to the 21st.

More than 30 gardens will be featured this time around - private green swards as well as gardens maintained by several museums. The choice includes strictly-formal Japanese gardens as well as those with a blaze of colour such as the one owned by actress Barbara Gozens. She is throwing open the garden gates at her home along the Keizersgracht as part of the event for the first time this year.

"In recent years I've had the pleasure of touring several gardens during garden weekend and I found the views they offer fascinating," said the actress.

Most tourists in Amsterdam stroll along the elegant Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsegracht blissfully unaware that behind the handsome homes and offices are beautifully-laid out gardens with age-old trees. This part of the city bears witness to the golden era of the Netherlands in 17th Century when wealthy merchants vied with each other to create the finest canal house gardens.

The open weekend has been an institution since 1996 and many owners take part every year. Some gardens however will be on show in 2009 for the first time.

Organiser Saskia Albrecht spends a good six months a year preparing for the big weekend. By chatting regularly with the gardeners and janitors who tend these canal properties she keeps managing to win over new owners prepared to welcome the public to their normally secluded retreats.

Some garden aficionados come to Amsterdam time and time again to enjoy the enclosed gardens and so the organisers are keen to provide a different selection each year. In 2008 around 7,500 visitors sampled these blueprints of garden history, marvelling at gardens both in classical and contemporary style. The modest entry fee charged goes to a charitable cause.

The Open Garden Days take place this year from Friday, June 20th - Sunday, June 22nd from 10 a. m. - 5 p. m. Tickets can be obtained at one of the following four locations: Biblical Museum Herengracht 366-368; Huis Marseille, Keizersgracht 401; Museum van Loon, Keizersgracht 672 and at the Museum Willet-Holthuysen, Herengracht 605. A three-day pass, which includes transport to the gardens by boat, is available for 15 euros (around 20 dollars). (dpa)