| Amstelveen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |||
| Stadshart (Centre of Amstelveen). | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | North Holland | ||
| Area(2009) | |||
| • Total | 44.05 km2 (17 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 41.56 km2 (16 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 2.49 km2 (1 sq mi) | ||
| Population (26 January 2009) | |||
| • Total | 78,980 | ||
| • Density | 1,903/km2 (4,928.7/sq mi) | ||
| Source: CBS, Statline. | |||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Website | http://www.amstelveen.nl | ||
' is a suburban municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the following villages and/or districts: Amstelveen, Bovenkerk, Westwijk, Bankras-Kostverloren, Groenelaan, Waardhuizen, Randwijk, Elsrijk, Keizer Karelpark, Nes aan de Amstel, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (partly). The name Amstelveen comes from 'Amstel', a local river, and 'veen', meaning fen, peat, or moor.
KLM has its headquarters in Amstelveen. In addition Amstelveen has the international headquarters of one of the Big Four auditors, KPMG.
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During the French occupation between 1810 and 1814, it was the capital of a canton in the French department Zuyderzée, and until 1964 the municipality of Amstelveen was called Nieuwer-Amstel. It is 'technically a large dorp (village), because it was never walled. The symbol adopted for Amstelveen was based on the Amsterdam symbol of three crosses, with one additional cross for distinction. The Thijssepark (in full the Dr Jac. P. Thijssepark), was the first heempark in the Netherlands and is one of sixteen heemparks or heemgroen in Amstelveen. Designed by landscape architect C.P.Broerse; following the ideas of the great Dutch naturalist and conservationist Jac. P. Thijsse, it was developed between 1940 and 1972 and covers an area of 5 hectares, and is situated just south of the Amsterdamse Bos. Amstelveen was chosen as an unlikely host of a match in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, for which the Netherlands had not qualified. South Africa played Kenya in the match. Former Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende started his political career as member of the council for Amstelveen. As a result of the vicinity of Schiphol (Amsterdam Airport), and its links to Amsterdam, Amstelveen has grown and become a cosmopolitan mix of many cultures living in Amstelveen.
The municipal council of Amstelveen consists of 37 seats, which are divided as follows:
Amstelveen has a metro and tram connection with Amsterdam. The Metro is a larger version of the tram in which some bicycles may be taken. It has a good 'point to point' bus connection to other villages, Schiphol International Airport, Amsterdam as well as a local network.
KLM has its headquarters in Amstelveen.[1][2] KLM Netherlands is also located in Amstelveen. Air France-KLM is represented by the KLM head office.[3]
In addition Amstelveen has the international headquarters of one of the Big Four auditors, KPMG.