Once upon a time, Overtoomse Veld was the vegetable garden of Amsterdam. Today, it is a vibrant neighborhood in the Westelijke Tuinsteden. Overtoomse Veld has a story to tell.
Overtoomse Veld derives its name from the area west of the Overtoomse Buurt. This area was near the Overtoomse Sluis. Before the 1950s, many horticultural businesses thrived here. Imagine fields of vegetables where buildings now stand.
After Amsterdam annexed Sloten in 1921, the city expanded. The areas around Mercatorplein, Surinameplein, and Hoofddorpplein were built in the 1920s. The remaining horticultural land was cleared in the 1950s. This clearing paved the way for the Overtoomse Veld we see today. The Rembrandtpark was also created at this time.
Before its development, the area was part of the Overtoomse Polder. Horticultural businesses cultivated much of this polder. They transformed the land. This transformation led to the Overtoomse Veld neighborhood.
Westlandgracht arose between Heemstedestraat and the old Sloterweg. After 1962, it became part of Overtoomse Veld. Today, it is known as the Delflandpleinbuurt. Overtoomse Veld boasts streets named after Dutch painters. These painters lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Delflandpleinbuurt streets honor cities and villages in Zuid-Holland.
Overtoomse Veld features a mix of low, medium, and high-rise buildings. The neighborhood was fully developed by the mid-1960s. The Jan Evertsenstraat borders Overtoomse Veld to the north. The former Sloterweg marks the southern boundary. The Postjeswetering and Westlandgracht form the eastern edge. The Ringspoorbaan defines the western border.
The Rembrandtpark lies on the east side of the neighborhood. It separates the pre-war city from the post-war city. The pre-war city had closed buildings. The post-war city has open buildings.
In 1990, Amsterdam established city districts. The pre-war part north of Surinameplein became part of De Baarsjes. Now, it is part of West. The area around Hoofddorppleinbuurt became part of the Zuid district. The post-war part of Overtoomse Veld became part of Slotervaart/Overtoomse Veld in 1990. In 2004, the district was renamed Slotervaart until 2010. Since 2010, it has been part of the Nieuw-West district.
Today, Overtoomse Veld is easily accessible by public transport. Several bus, metro, and train lines serve the area. The nearest bus stop is Derkinderenstraat. The nearest metro station is Postjesweg. The nearest light rail station is Jan Voermanstraat. This makes it easy to explore the neighborhood.
So, next time you’re in Amsterdam, remember Overtoomse Veld. It transformed from a vegetable garden to a modern neighborhood. It showcases Amsterdam’s dynamic history.