Badhoevedorp
Badhoevedorp is a town and borough (wijk) in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, North Holland province, Netherlands, located directly adjacent to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and approximately 8 kilometers southwest of central Amsterdam.[1][2] With a population of 15,080 residents as of January 1, 2025, it spans an area of 8.77 square kilometers, resulting in a population density of about 1,720 inhabitants per square kilometer.[3][4] The town is characterized by its green, suburban landscape, strong community ties, and excellent transport links, including bus services to Schiphol Airport (just 10-15 minutes away) and Amsterdam.[1][2] The area's development traces back to the mid-19th century following the reclamation of the Haarlemmermeer polder in 1852, which transformed former peat lakes into arable land. Badhoevedorp originated around the De Badhoeve model farm, established in 1854 by Jacob Paulus Amersfoordt, who served as mayor of Haarlemmermeer from 1863 to 1869; the farm, built that year, was designated a municipal monument around 1860 featuring traditional Dutch architecture with six-pane windows.[1][5] The settlement was formally named Badhoevedorp in 1936, evolving from a rural outpost into a residential hub influenced by the nearby growth of Schiphol Airport since the 1920s, which has driven economic expansion and population influx.[1][6] Today, Badhoevedorp functions as one of Haarlemmermeer's four largest villages, with a diverse demographic including approximately 24% of residents under 20 years old and 18% over 65 as of 2024, and origins encompassing 63% with Dutch background, 24% non-Western (such as from Morocco, Suriname, and Turkey), and 13% Western background as of 2025.[7][3] The town emphasizes community and sustainability, featuring amenities like the Sporthoeve sports complex, Kinderboerderij De Hoeve children's farm, a vibrant village center with shops and a library, and annual events such as the September Stratengolftoernooi street golf tournament.[1] Ongoing municipal projects focus on enhancing the compact town center to foster liveliness and pride among residents, while its proximity to Schiphol supports roles in aviation, logistics, and commuting.[8][6]Geography
Location
Badhoevedorp is located in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands, within the municipality of Haarlemmermeer.[9] Its geographical coordinates are approximately 52°20′N 4°47′E.[10] The town occupies a total area of 9.09 km², comprising 8.77 km² of land and 0.32 km² of water.[11] It lies within the Haarlemmermeer polder and is bordered by several key waterways, including the Ringvaart canal to the north, which forms its boundary with Amsterdam, and the Hoofdvaart canal running through the area.[9] Badhoevedorp is separated from the village of Sloten—now part of Amsterdam since its annexation in 1921—by the Ringvaart canal.[12] The town is situated approximately 2–3 km north of Schiphol Airport and about 8 km southwest of Amsterdam's city center, placing it firmly within the Amsterdam metropolitan area.[13][14]Climate
Badhoevedorp features a temperate maritime climate, classified under the Köppen system as Cfb, marked by mild, wet conditions year-round due to its proximity to the North Sea, which moderates temperature extremes and brings frequent westerly winds.[15] The average annual temperature stands at 10.7°C, with July marking the warmest month at an average high of around 20°C and January the coldest, with average lows near 2°C.[15][16] Annual precipitation averages 844 mm, distributed relatively evenly across the seasons but peaking in autumn, particularly October and November, when monthly totals often exceed 80 mm.[17][18] At an elevation of approximately -3 m below sea level within the Haarlemmermeer polder, the locality experiences consistently mild temperatures enhanced by the surrounding lowlands, though this positioning heightens flood vulnerability, effectively managed through the Netherlands' extensive dike and drainage infrastructure.[19] Climate change has led to notably milder winters in recent decades, with increased occurrences of above-freezing temperatures; data from the adjacent Schiphol weather station record an average of 11.9°C for 2024, surpassing the long-term norm.[20][21]History
Origins
Badhoevedorp originated in the reclaimed lands of the Haarlemmermeer polder, a vast area drained from the former Haarlemmermeer lake between 1849 and 1852 through an ambitious engineering project involving three steam-powered pumping stations. This reclamation transformed what had been a hazardous body of water—prone to storms and flooding—into fertile agricultural territory, enabling organized settlement in the region. The polder's drainage marked one of the largest hydraulic works of the 19th century, covering approximately 18,000 hectares and setting the stage for rural development in north-central Netherlands.[22] The name Badhoevedorp derives from the model farm De Badhoeve, established in 1854 by Jacob Paulus Amersfoordt, a lawyer and landowner who later served as mayor of Haarlemmermeer from 1863 to 1869. Amersfoordt purchased 214 hectares of newly available land near Sloten and developed the farm as an experimental agricultural enterprise, incorporating advanced techniques such as steam-powered machinery for threshing and plowing to demonstrate modern farming methods on the polder's clay soils. The term "Badhoeve" likely refers to a former beach house or bathing facility (badhuis) located on the pre-reclamation dike along the Haarlemmermeer, reflecting a historical site for recreation near Amsterdam's vicinity.[23][1][24] Early settlement in the area centered on agriculture, with small farming communities forming around De Badhoeve as a focal point; the locality was initially known as Badhoevebuurt in 19th-century records and integrated into the newly formed Haarlemmermeer municipality in 1855. These communities emphasized mixed livestock and crop production, though challenges like malaria, cholera outbreaks in 1865, and cattle plagues in 1866 hindered growth, prompting innovations in hygiene and water management at farms like De Badhoeve. By the late 19th century, the farm had become a municipal monument, attracting notable visitors including Queen Sophia, and symbolized the polder's shift toward progressive rural economies.[23][1] A key aspect of early development was the construction of infrastructure to support agriculture and connectivity, including a network of internal canals and ditches for drainage and transport, integrated with the encircling Ringvaart canal begun in 1839. These waterways, laid out during the polder's subdivision in the 1850s, facilitated irrigation, peat removal, and the movement of goods by barge, essential for sustaining the isolated farming hamlets; by 1900, such systems had stabilized water levels and enabled reliable crop yields across the region. Local additions, like the Sloterbrug bridge in 1879 linking to nearby Sloten, further enhanced access.[22][24]Modern development
In the 1930s, Badhoevedorp expanded significantly as a garden village to address housing needs stemming from Amsterdam's urban spillover, with new residential areas and road infrastructure developed under the urban planning vision of Wieger Bruin to primarily accommodate workers at the adjacent Schiphol Airport.[25] This growth marked the village's official naming in 1936 and attracted a influx of residents from Amsterdam seeking more affordable suburban options, leading to a notable population increase during the decade.[25] Post-World War II suburbanization accelerated in the 1950s and early 1960s, transforming Badhoevedorp into Haarlemmermeer's largest village through planned expansions featuring modern housing layouts and ample green spaces, further fueled by ongoing migration from Amsterdam.[25] A pivotal infrastructure change occurred on August 8, 1967, when the Rijksweg 9 (A9) motorway opened directly through the village, improving regional connectivity to Amsterdam and Haarlem but also bisecting the community and creating physical barriers to local cohesion.[26] The A9's diversion on April 10, 2017, rerouted the highway south of the village, eliminating its passage through the core and freeing up land for new residential developments and expanded green areas, thereby enhancing livability.[27] This shift has solidified Badhoevedorp's evolution from a rural outpost into a commuter suburb tightly linked to Schiphol Airport, with improved accessibility for daily travel to the Randstad region.[25] Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, urban renewal initiatives have emphasized sustainable growth, including the 2013 Bestemmingsplan Badhoevedorp-Lijnden-Oost, which outlines comprehensive area redevelopment around the village, and the accompanying Groenstructuurplan, establishing a resilient green framework for the next two decades.[28][29] These efforts integrate with Haarlemmermeer's broader municipal strategies for environmental resilience and balanced urban expansion.[30]Demographics and society
Population
Badhoevedorp's population has experienced steady growth in recent years, reflecting its appeal as a suburban community near Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. As of January 1, 2025 (estimate from Statistics Netherlands), the town has approximately 15,080 residents; the latest confirmed figure as of 2024 is 14,620.[31][3][32] In 2022, the estimated population stood at 13,450, marking an increase from 13,290 in 2021.[31] This upward trend is supported by annual growth rates of about 2-3% since 2013, when the population was 11,922, driven primarily by its convenient location and housing developments.[31] Historical data indicates a broader expansion from around 11,370 residents in 2010 to the current levels, underscoring Badhoevedorp's transition into a desirable residential area.[4] The town's land area spans 8.77 km², resulting in a population density of approximately 1,720 people per square kilometer (based on 2025 estimate).[31] As of 2025, approximately 80% of residents were born in the Netherlands. About 24% have a non-Western migration background (including first- and second-generation from countries such as Morocco, Suriname, and Turkey), with the remainder having Dutch or Western backgrounds.[3] The population includes approximately 28% under 20 years old and 20% over 65 years old, reflecting a balanced age structure with strong family and retiree communities.[7][3] However, there has been a notable rise in international residents, attracted by employment opportunities at nearby Schiphol Airport.[31]| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2010 | ~11,370 |
| 2013 | 11,922 |
| 2021 | 13,290 |
| 2022 | 13,450 |
| 2024 | 14,620 |
| 2025 | 15,080 (est.) |