Amstelveen

For the NV Reederij Amsterdam steamship, see SS Amstelveen.
Amstelveen
Municipality

Amstelveen city centre

Flag
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Amstelveen in a municipal map of North Holland
Location in North Holland
Coordinates: 52°18′N 4°51′E / 52.300°N 4.850°E / 52.300; 4.850Coordinates: 52°18′N 4°51′E / 52.300°N 4.850°E / 52.300; 4.850
Country Netherlands
Province North Holland
Government[1]
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Mirjam van 't Veld (CDA)
Area[2]
 • Total 44.08 km2 (17.02 sq mi)
 • Land 41.45 km2 (16.00 sq mi)
 • Water 2.63 km2 (1.02 sq mi)
Elevation[3] −1 m (−3 ft)
Population (May 2014)[4]
 • Total 85,749
 • Density 2,069/km2 (5,360/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Amstelvener
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 1180–1189
Area code 020
Website www.amstelveen.nl
Topographic map of Amstelveen, Sept. 2014

Amstelveen ( pronunciation ) is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is a suburban part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the following villages and/or districts: Amstelveen, Bovenkerk, Westwijk, Bankras-Kostverloren, Groenelaan, Waardhuizen, Middenhoven, Randwijk, Elsrijk, Keizer Karelpark, Nes aan de Amstel, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (partly). The name Amstelveen comes from Amstel, a local river, and veen, meaning fen, peat, or moor.

KLM has its headquarters in Amstelveen. In addition Amstelveen has the international headquarters of one of the Big Four auditors, KPMG.

History

Map of Nieuwer-Amstel, 1865-1870

During the French occupation between 1810 and 1814, it was the capital of a canton in the French department Zuyderzée, and until 1964 the municipality of Amstelveen was called Nieuwer-Amstel. It is technically a large dorp (village), because it was never walled. The symbol adopted for Amstelveen was based on the Amsterdam symbol of three crosses, with one additional cross for distinction. The Thijssepark (in full the Dr Jac. P. Thijssepark), was the first heempark in the Netherlands and is one of sixteen heemparks or heemgroen in Amstelveen. Designed by landscape architect C.P.Broerse; following the ideas of the great Dutch naturalist and conservationist Jac. P. Thijsse, it was developed between 1940 and 1972 and covers an area of 5 hectares, and is situated just south of the Amsterdamse Bos. Amstelveen was chosen as an unlikely host of a match in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, for which the Netherlands had not qualified. South Africa played Kenya in the match. Former Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende started his political career as member of the council for Amstelveen. As a result of the vicinity of Schiphol (Amsterdam Airport), and its links to Amsterdam, Amstelveen has grown and become a cosmopolitan mix of many cultures living in Amstelveen.

In the early 20th century Amstelveen was a small rural village. The turf industry had collapsed, so the revenues of it were gone. The village was somewhat isolated, because no major rail and waterway were connected. The main source of income was livestock farming with some arable, but the horticulture and floriculture were already emerging.

In 1852 the Haarlemmermeer polder was reclaimed and the "Fort at the Schiphol" was created as a defense for the capital Amsterdam. Forts were in those days more often named after rivers. "Fort at the Schiphol" was a separating ditch between Aalsmeer and Amstelveen,and named after a piece of land from Amstelveen. Fort Schiphol, became a military airport in 1916. Four years later Schiphol became a civilian airport. Schiphol Fort was demolished in 1934. The demolition was necessary for the construction of the provincial road (Mayor Of Sonweg) from Amstelveen to Schiphol, with a swing bridge over the circular canal of the Haarlemmermeer. The development of Schiphol attracted many people, many of whom settled in Amstelveen. The headquarters of KLM was established there. Amstelveen once was the fastest growing city in the Netherlands and has now grown to 81,003 inhabitants (2010).

After World War II Amstelveen caught a portion of Amsterdam's housing shortage, and was also a member of the municipality of Schiphol. Amsterdams Planning was to introduce Amstelveen as a metropolitan area, with its urban and green areas. Amstelveen remained an independent and self-conscious municipality and adopted a policy that reflected many attractive new residential areas. Amstelveens landscaping and added art attracted much international attention.

Amstelveen in 2003 was voted the most attractive city of the Netherlands to live in. Currently Amstelveen is in the top three on the national list of best cities to live in. With Amstelveen city center also receiving the number one award for best shopping center Netherlands in 2013, 2014 and 2015

Economy

KLM head office
KPMG head office

KLM Netherlands has its headquarters in Amstelveen (52°18′22″N 4°50′35″E / 52.306117°N 4.842954°E / 52.306117; 4.842954).[5][6] Air France-KLM is represented by the KLM head office.[7]

In addition Amstelveen has the international headquarters of one of the Big Four auditors, KPMG.

Water near restaurant

Transport

Amstelveen has a metro and tram connection with Amsterdam. The Metro is a larger version of the tram in which some bicycles may be taken. It has a 'point to point' bus connection to other villages, Schiphol International Airport, Amsterdam as well as a local network. In the future there will be some changes in the metro. There will be added a new metroline what will connect Amstelveen with the North of Amsterdam. This line will be ready in 2020.

Tourism and attractions

Secondary Education

Other Education

Local government

The municipal council of Amstelveen consists of 37 seats, which are divided as follows:

Notable people

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Amstelveen is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Burgemeester mr. G.J. (Fred) de Graaf" [Mayor mr. G.J. (Fred) de Graaf] (in Dutch). Gemeente Amstelveen. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Postcodetool for 1182JR". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Contact." KLM Corporate. Retrieved on 28 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "Fact Sheet." SkyTeam. Retrieved on 27 December 2008.
  7. ↑ "KLM office, Amsterdam." Air France-KLM. Retrieved on 18 June 2010.
  8. ↑ "Woking Town twinning". The Woking Town Twinning Association. Retrieved 2013-07-19.

External links

 Haarlemmermeer Amsterdam
Aalsmeer Ouder-Amstel
   Amstelveen  
Uithoorn De Ronde Venen (UT)
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