Sportpark Spieringhorn

Ever wondered what lies beneath a bustling sports field? Here at Sportpark Spieringhorn, the echoes of the past mingle with the cheers of today’s athletes. Sportpark Spieringhorn isn’t just a modern sports complex in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. It carries a hidden history, layered beneath its football, hockey, and American football fields. Before the roar of the crowds and the thud of the ball, this area was a tranquil veenweidegebied, a peat meadow. It was known as Spieringhorn polder, nestled between the Spaarndammerdijk and the Haarlemmervaart. Imagine a landscape of lush green fields and the rhythmic creak of a poldermolen, a windmill diligently keeping the water at bay. That windmill stood proudly along the Haarlemmervaart until a devastating fire in 1928. A modern gemaal, a pumping station, now performs the same vital task. Sportpark Spieringhorn, with its vibrant sporting scene, now occupies this historical land. The very ground beneath our feet was once part of this polder. Teams like AFC DWS and SDW called Sportpark Spieringhorn home for years. DWS has since moved to Sportpark Sloten in 2021, but their legacy remains. Look for the large football sculpture at the southeastern edge of the park. It’s a landmark visible from the Haarlemmerweg. It signals your arrival at Sportpark Spieringhorn. Just across from that iconic football is a poignant reminder of what once stood here. The artwork “Deur naar het verleden” or “Door to the Past” commemorates the Huis te Bretten. This house graced this spot from 1635 until 1837 when it was demolished to make way for the Amsterdam-Haarlem railway. Sportpark Spieringhorn is easily accessible by bike, public transport, and car. So, the next time you’re at a match, take a moment to appreciate the layers of history beneath the vibrant energy of Sportpark Spieringhorn. It’s a place where the past and present meet, in the heart of Amsterdam.