Editing Amstelveen (section)

==History==
[[File:Nieuwer-Amstel.gif|thumb|left|Map of Nieuwer-Amstel, 1865–1870]]
[[File:Amstelveen-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg|left|thumb|Topographic map of Amstelveen, September 2014]]
During the French occupation between 1810 and 1814, Amstelveen 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 Amstelveen flag and coat of arms, both present 5 strips in a red, black, red, black, red pattern, with three crosses on the top black strip, and a single cross in the middle of the lower black strip. The symbols bear great similarity to that of Amsterdam's, though the exact nature of the relationship remains unclear. 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 (about 12 acres), 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 [[Dutch cricket team|Netherlands]] had not qualified. [[South African cricket team|South Africa]] played [[Kenyan cricket team|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 [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol]] (Amsterdam Airport), and its links to Amsterdam, Amstelveen has grown and become a cosmopolitan mix of many cultures.

In the early 20th century Amstelveen was a small rural village. The [[Peat|turf]] industry had collapsed, so the village had lost its revenues from it. The village was somewhat isolated, because it had no major railway or waterway. The main source of income was [[livestock]] farming, with some arable, but [[horticulture]] and [[floriculture]] were already emerging.

In 1852 the [[Haarlemmermeer]] polder was reclaimed and the "Fort at the Schiphol" was created as a defense for Amsterdam. Forts were in those days more often named after rivers. "Fort at the Schiphol" was a ditch separating [[Aalsmeer]] and Amstelveen, and named after a piece of land from Amstelveen. Fort Schiphol became a military airport in 1916. Four years later Schiphol became a civilian airport. Schiphol Fort was demolished in 1934 to build a provincial road (Mayor Van Sonweg) from Amstelveen to Schiphol, with a swing bridge over the circular canal of the Haarlemmermeer. The development of Schiphol Airport attracted many people, many of whom settled in Amstelveen. The headquarters of [[KLM]] was established there. Amstelveen once was the fastest growing city in the Netherlands{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} and has now grown to 91,691 inhabitants (2020).

After [[World War II]] Amstelveen caught{{clarify|date=January 2020}} a portion of Amsterdam's housing shortage, and was also a member of the municipality of Schiphol. Amsterdam's plan was to introduce Amstelveen as a [[metropolitan area]], with its urban and green areas. Amstelveen remained an independent and self-conscious municipality and adopted a policy that reflected many attractive new residential areas. Amstelveen's landscaping and added art attracted much international attention.

In 1993, Amstelveen was in the news for its [[Krokettenmotie]], debated in the municipal council after a motion proposal by [[Jan Peter Balkenende]]. In 2004 Amstelveen was voted the most attractive city in the Netherlands in which to live. Currently Amstelveen is in the top three on the national list of best cities to live in. The Amstelveen city centre also received the number one award for the Netherlands' best shopping centre in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

In 2018 the St. Urbanus Church (''Sint-Urbanuskerk'') in Bovenkerk caught fire. The tower remained standing but the rest of the church suffered severe damage.

The city's close proximity to Schiphol Airport makes it a prime location for people working in the aviation industry.