Visit · Indoors and out
Hoofddorp is not a classic tourist town, but it has plenty to offer: a large recreational forest, a swimming lake, World Heritage forts, theatre and live music, and a polder landscape with a remarkable story. An overview of places worth visiting all year round.
Recreation area
The largest recreation area of the polder, on the east side of Hoofddorp, planted from 1979. Walking and cycling paths, ponds, meadows and the events field that hosts the Mysteryland festival.
Swimming
A recreational lake of more than 85 hectares with two official bathing sites: the Grote Strand on the west side and the Speelvijver for children. Check water quality in season on zwemwater.nl.
Walking
A military dike of about 11 km from Fort bij Vijfhuizen via Fort bij Hoofddorp to Fort bij Aalsmeer, part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam (UNESCO World Heritage).
Green space
Younger recreation areas between Vijfhuizen, Cruquius and Hoofddorp, connected to the Haarlemmermeerse Bos.
Venue
Since 2011 the cultural heart of the town centre, housing Theater De Meerse, music venue Duycker, arts centre Pier K and the public library.
Museum
The 1849 steam pumping station on the western edge of the polder near Heemstede, one of the three that drained the lake, now a museum.
Heritage
The old town hall of 1867 in the centre, now a cultural venue.
Art
A fort of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, now a venue for contemporary art.
Heritage
The oldest of the three steam pumping stations, at Buitenkaag on the southern tip of the polder.
Heritage
A fort on the Geniedijk, once outside the village and now surrounded by the town.
For shopping and eating out, head to Stadshart Hoofddorp, the central shopping area with chain stores, independent shops, restaurants and a market. Every larger district also has its own neighbourhood shopping centre.
The best-known event is Mysteryland, the dance festival held in the Haarlemmermeerse Bos since 2003, usually at the end of August. Always check dates with the organisers.
Thanks to its central location Hoofddorp is a practical base. Haarlem and Amsterdam are quickly reached by bus or train; the coast at Zandvoort is roughly half an hour by car. In spring a seasonal bus runs from Hoofddorp station to Keukenhof gardens in Lisse.
For current tips, opening hours and routes, the regional tourism website visithaarlemmermeer.nl is a good starting point. Hoofddorp.org describes lasting places and deliberately does not list opening hours or prices.
For being the main town of the Haarlemmermeer polder, a lake drained in 1849–1852, for its proximity to Schiphol Airport, and for the Haarlemmermeerse Bos, home of the Mysteryland festival.
For classic sightseeing Haarlem and Amsterdam are better known, but Hoofddorp is attractive for nature, cycling, swimming and heritage — and as a quiet base close to Schiphol.
Outdoors at the Toolenburgerplas (Grote Strand and Speelvijver, official bathing sites). There is also an indoor swimming pool in town.