Time to reflect! De Eendracht in Amsterdam is more than just a neighborhood. It is a testament to the city’s innovative spirit.
De Eendracht is a polder. It was once a peat bog in the west of Amsterdam. The name also refers to a neighborhood in Geuzenveld and a sport park. Even the nearby Eendrachtspark gets its name from this area.
South of the Haarlemmerweg lies Polder De Eendracht. It was part of the former Osdorper Binnenpolder. From 1920 to 1941, the Eendracht company partially excavated it. The polder was drained between 1937 and 1941. Its block-like layout served as a trial for the Noordoostpolder. That polder was reclaimed in 1942. De Eendracht was one of Amsterdam’s last farmlands at the start of the 21st century. Since 2009, this area has become part of the Tuinen van West.
The eastern part of the polder vanished in the 1950s. It was covered with sand for the Tuinstad Geuzenveld. Adjacent to it is Sportpark de Eendracht. It includes rugby, football, and korfball fields. Furthermore, the Tigeno, De Eendracht, and Nieuwe Bijenpark allotment gardens, with their beekeeping areas, were established in the polder.
The northeastern part of the sports park was sacrificed in the late 1980s. This made way for a small new housing estate called De Eendracht. It is located west of Geuzenveld. The first houses were completed in the early 1990s. They stand on part of the former sports fields. The neighborhood is accessed from Aalbersestraat via J.M. den Uylstraat. That street extends Cornelis Outshoornstraat. It also connects via Gerda Brautigamstraat. That street extends Sam van Houtenstraat. The streets here are named after 20th-century Dutch politicians, including Joop den Uyl.
On the south side is Park de Kuil. It is an ecological park with walking and cycling paths.
Bus 21 was rerouted through the neighborhood in 1990. It provided a connection to the center of Amsterdam. Initially, it only ran back and forth through J.M. den Uylstraat. Since 1991, the bus has looped through the neighborhood. Bus 192 also ran this loop from 2002-2011. After being shortened to the end of J.M. den Uylstraat in 2014 due to roadworks, the line was straightened again on July 17, 2015 via Aalbersestraat. The neighborhood lost its public transport.
On March 2, 2025, bus 21 will return to the neighborhood after almost 10 years of absence. Half of the journeys will serve the neighborhood. The other half will continue to run the current route. These buses will go to a terminus at the end of J.M. Den Uylstraat with turning facilities. The speed bumps in the street are being adapted for use by articulated electric buses. Because the Bok de Korverweg and Gerda Brautingamstraat are designed as access roads for residential areas, a return there is not possible.
Since 1997, Sportpark De Eendracht has housed the National Rugby Centre Amsterdam. It is the location of the Dutch Rugby Union’s office. ASRV Ascrum and AAC also use the rugby fields.
SC Eendracht ’82, ASV De Germaan, SV Nieuw-West United, P en T, SV Parkstad, and AC Atletico play on the football fields in the sports park. De Eendracht also hosts American Football, Australian Football, Beach Volleyball, Fitness, Survivalrun, Cricket, Handball, Tennis, Kaatsen, Padel, Climbing, and Running for the visually impaired.
Today, the sports park houses the hyper-modern Spark United sports complex. It is opposite the National Rugby Centre Amsterdam. Several sports clubs use it. There is also a grandstand in the building, but it is smaller than at the NRCA. The building is also used as a branch of ROC-Top.
The Eendrachtspark was created in the sixties. It lies between Geuzenveld and Slotermeer. Since 2010, it is part of Nieuw-West. From 2005, the park underwent a major renovation. The park contains artworks.
As you leave De Eendracht, remember that it is a place of unity, sportsmanship, and community.