•• HOUSING ••
Amstelveen
Key attractions for residents, workers and businesses are the proximity to Schiphol airport and access to international schools. The International School of Amsterdam is based here with over 950 children from over 50 countries but pupils at Amsterdam’s other international schools (such as the British School) often live in Amstelveen. The area is flanked by Amsterdam’s largest park, the Amsterdamse Bos and the CoBrA Museum adds a dash of culture.
Amstelveen is a leafy, prosperous, familyoriented suburb close to Amsterdam, which has a significant population of international residents. The largest group comes from Japan and the area is increasingly popular with expats from India and China who have displaced the British, Americans and Germans in the top four. Prices are slightly cheaper than Amsterdam but there’s more family-style housing with gardens (70 percent built after 1960) and excellent shopping and local amenities, particularly for sporty types. The extra space means parking is not a problem and many homes have garages.
I’m glad I’m living in Amstelveen; it’s greener than Amsterdam, but you still have the advantage of living next to a big city. G.B., Latvian, Amstelveen
Amstelveen’s population is booming, with a total of 85,000 citizens predicted for 2020. Another 3,800 houses will likely be built between now and 2020, with more than half on the edge of the Westwijk area.
HET OUDE DORP ‘The Old Village’ is the ancient hub of the original settlement (1278) with the Amsterdamse Bos to the west and the town centre to the east. There’s a mix of older detached houses, farms, terraced houses and apartments. WESTWIJK Westwijk is a relatively new area of Amstelveen which is modern and spacious and lined with small canals. It is an area of detached homes that offer a modicum of privacy and thus attracts premium prices. ELSRIJK Directly north of the town centre, this is considered classic Amstelveen with its wide streets, huge trees and post-war housing next to small parks. There are terraces, semidetached houses and villas. PATRIMONIUM Running alongside the Amsterdamse Bos, there’s a mix of housing and in the Prinsessenbuurt some detached houses and wide, open spaces. Population: 80,724 (www.amstelveen.nl) International residents: 10,000 ‘Total non-Dutch’ (12.5 percent) International schools: International School of Amsterdam: www.isa.nl Links: www.amstelveen.nl www.amstelveenweb.com
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