Amstelveen

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For the NV Reederij Amsterdam steamship, see SS Amstelveen.
Amstelveen
Municipality
Amstelveen city centre
Amstelveen city centre
Flag of Amstelveen
Flag		 Coat of arms of Amstelveen
Coat of arms
Location in North Holland
Location in North Holland
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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 (<phonos file="Nl-Amstelveen.ogg">pronunciation</phonos>) 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.[citation needed]

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[citation needed] 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.

Economy

KLM head office
KPMG head office

KLM Netherlands has its headquarters in Amstelveen (Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.).[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.[citation needed]

Transport

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 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.

Tourism and attractions

  • Cobra Museum is located in the centre (Stadshart) of Amstelveen.
  • Museum Jan van der Togt, is centrehousing a glass art collection
  • Birthplace of the artist Jan Cornelis Hofman.
  • Birthplace of the actress Famke Janssen.
  • Birthplace of the DJ and artist Martin Garrix
  • A statue of Rembrandt overlooks the river Amstel, south east from the Amstelpark, where a windmill open to visitors is also situated
  • An Electrische Museumtramlijn still connects to Amsterdam in the summer, passing by the Amsterdamse Bos and Olympic rowing lake

Secondary Education

Other Education

Local government

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

  • VVD - 9 seats
  • PvdA - 5 seats
  • GroenLinks - 5 seats
  • Burger Belangen - 4 seats
  • CDA - 4 seats
  • D66 - 6 seats
  • Christen Unie - 1 seat
  • OCA/VSP - 1 seat
  • SP - 2 seats

International relations

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Netherlands

Twin towns – Sister cities

Amstelveen is twinned with:

See also

References

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External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website (Dutch)
 Haarlemmermeer Amsterdam
Aalsmeer Ouder-Amstel
  Amstelveen  
Uithoorn De Ronde Venen (UT)

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  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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