Haarlemmermeerpolder

Centuries ago, the Haarlemmermeerpolder wasn’t a polder at all. It was a menacing lake. The Haarlemmermeer, or “Haarlem’s Lake,” swallowed villages whole. It grew larger and larger, fueled by the insatiable demand for peat. Locals, tempted by the meager profits from peat extraction, unknowingly fed this “water wolf.” By 1700, the Haarlemmermeer spanned 16,000 hectares. A century later, it had grown to 18,000. The lake’s growth was a constant threat to nearby cities like Amsterdam, Haarlem, and Leiden. Storms in 1834 and 1836 sent waves crashing into the streets of Leiden and Amsterdam. This spurred the government into action. In 1839, despite protests from fishermen and barge skippers, the Haarlemmermeer Reclamation Act passed. The draining of the Haarlemmermeerpolder began in 1840. Workers dug a 60-kilometer ring canal. They built a ring dike to hold back the water. Three powerful steam pumping stations, the Leeghwater, Lijnden, and the massive Cruquius, worked tirelessly. By 1852, they had pumped out an astounding 800 million cubic meters of water, finally revealing the fertile land beneath. The Haarlemmermeerpolder was dry. The newly reclaimed land was divided into four sections: Vijfhuizen, Rijk, Beinsdorp, and Burgerveen. These names echoed lost villages consumed by the lake. The polder was laid out in a precise grid of roads, waterways, and canals. Two new villages, Hoofddorp and Nieuw-Vennep, were planned. In 1855, the Haarlemmermeerpolder officially became a municipality. The Haarlemmermeerpolder wasn’t immune to hardship. The late 19th century brought economic struggles for the polder’s farmers. Low grain prices forced many to leave, seeking new opportunities in cities or abroad. However, the 20th century brought renewed prosperity. Improved farming techniques and the arrival of the railroad in 1912 revitalized the area. Then, in 1917, a small military airfield appeared near the old fort of Schiphol. This seemingly insignificant event would forever change the landscape of the Haarlemmermeerpolder. That airfield became Schiphol Airport, now a global aviation hub. It transformed the once rural polder, drawing businesses, residents, and shaping the modern Haarlemmermeer that we see today.