City in the Polder

(13.0 km)

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This route passes through the neighborhoods of Groenelaan and Waardhuizen and the village of Nes aan de Amstel. A key feature is the Bovenkerkerpolder, from which this part of Amstelveen originated. The landscape and buildings are filled with countless traces that illustrate the history of this part of Amstelveen. The route is 13 km long and is best explored by bicycle.

Land Reclamation
The Bovenkerkerpolder has undergone various transformations. Initially, it…

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Land Reclamation
The Bovenkerkerpolder has undergone various transformations. Initially, it was a wild marshland. About a thousand years ago, settlers entered the area and dug ditches to make the land suitable for agriculture and livestock farming. The peat soil was then excavated to be sold as dried peat (an excellent fuel). This resulted in a large lake. Reclamation began in 1764. A ring canal and a ring dike were dug by hand. Eleven windmills were needed to drain the water. These remained in use until 1914, when the polder board switched to drainage by diesel engines.

Nes aan de Amstel
Nes aan de Amstel is a village within the municipality of Amstelveen. The Sint Urbanuskerk is a landmark in the landscape. This basilica was built between 1889 and 1891 by the young architect Joseph Cuypers. For its centenary in 1991, the national monument was completely restored. Nes has its own traditions, including the annual Nes cycling race held since 1956 and the yearly village festival. A regular feature of the village festival is the mud and ditch race through fields and ditches.

De Zwarte Kat
Along the Amstel near Nes, there are three hamlets: De Nes, De Zwaluwebuurt, and De Zwarte Kat. The latter hamlet is named after a café that stood here for centuries. A gable stone with a black cat can still be found in the facade. Nearby stands the gunpowder factory 'De Oude Molen'. The gunpowder produced here was used for warships and fireworks, among other things. The factory exploded twice. The last time was in 1953.

Groenelaan and Waardhuizen
In 1965, large-scale new construction began in the Bovenkerkerpolder. A quiet residential area with a secluded character was planned. The main access road was the Groenelaan, from which the neighborhood derives its name. Surrounding it are four car-free neighborhoods. About ten years later, Waardhuizen was built, with the motto: back to human scale. Few apartment buildings and mainly single-family homes around residential courtyards, playgrounds, and parking lots. The Nesserlaan forms the southern border between the urban development of Amstelveen and the rural outskirts, where the polder landscape is still clearly visible.

Check out the rest of the historical routes here.