Surrounded by the 62-kilometer long Ringvaart waterway, the municipality of Haarlemmermeer spans 18,500 hectares. Hoofddorp is its geographical, administrative and cultural capital. Just south of Hoofddorp is the town of Nieuw Vennep, one of the municipality’s key residential areas, along with Badhoevedorp and Zwanenburg. in total, Haarlemmermeer boasts 26 residential areas and villages, some of which consist of no more than a few houses. These are dotted across the polder and along the Ringvaart, offering rural tranquility in the urban sprawl of the Randstad conurbation.
A typical growth area
With a population of over 140,000, Haarlemmermeer ranks among the twenty largest municipalities in the Netherlands. However, the area is relatively sparsely populated, with just over three homes per hectare. Being a typical growth community, Haarlemmermeer is home to many families. Of the 55,000 homes in Haarlemmermeer, 65% are owner-occupied and 35% are rented. The majority of the homes are modern, comfortable, low-rise houses with gardens. Over the past 25 years, the municipality has been enriched with various recreational areas. Just outside the municipal borders, within cycling distance, there are freely accessible country estates, dunes, beaches and sailing waters. And for those in search of big-city bustle, Amsterdam is just a short way off. The municipality is optimally accessible via the A4, A44, A9 and A5 motorways. The municipality also boasts the Zuidtangent, a high-quality commuter bus route. There are also high-frequency rail links with Amsterdam, Leiden and The Hague. And the future will bring the new high-speed train to Schiphol airport, which is of course a gateway to the rest of the world.
Diversity
The residential areas in Haarlemmermeer are highly diverse. The smaller villages are characterized by spacious tranquility. They offer a modest range of facilities. Several villages are expanding cautiously, but retaining their original character. Hoofddorp is the oldest and largest residential area in Haarlemmermeer. Because the majority of its residential areas date from the 1970s and thereafter, the town has a modern feel to it. Hoofddorp offers a varied range of shops, and the municipality’s main educational institutions, theaters and catering establishments are located in and around the town.
An eye for quality
The residential areas Floriande in Hoofddorp, Getsewoud in Nieuw-Vennep, and Stellinghof in Vijfhuizen offer plenty of greenery, space and variation. They offer an excellent balance of modern apartment complexes, affordable single-family homes, and garden suburbs with 1930s-style homes. The municipality safeguards the quality of urban planning and architecture in these areas. The maintenance and improvement of existing residential areas, through community management, urban renewal and other activities, is also a key area of attention.
Growth and renewal
With its strategic location, healthy economic dynamism and spacious tranquility, Haarlemmermeer has repeatedly scored high on the appeal index in national surveys. The municipality has ambitious building plans for the coming years. The primary focus will be on younger people, senior citizens and first-time home owners. In addition, the municipality will sustain and improve the quality of the living environment, recreational facilities and other amenities, ensuring an excellent standard of living for young and old in Haarlemmermeer. In short, the municipality will retain its characteristic dynamism and offer ample room for growth and development.