The Hoofdvaart: important canal straight through the polder

In the water-rich polder landscape of Haarlemmermeer you will find various rivers, lakes and canals. One of the most important canals is the Hoofdvaart: a canal of no less than 20 kilometers long! The canal runs from north to south along various villages such as Lijnden, Hoofddorp, Nieuw-Vennep, Abbenes and Buitenkaag. Discover this beautiful canal in Haarlemmermeer and learn more about the creation of the unique polder landscape!
Main canal from above.

History of the Main Canal 

The Hoofdvaart runs through the entire length of the Haarlemmermeerpolder. In the north, the Hoofdvaart ends at the Gemaal De Lynden at the Ringvaart in Lijnden, in the southern part the canal ends at the Gemaal Leeghwater in Buitenkaag. These pumping stations keep the polder dry by pumping the water from the Hoofdvaart into the Ringvaart.  
 

The Hoofdvaart was excavated in 1852, just after the reclamation of the Haarlemmermeer. The canal was used for shipping until 1957. Large ships could thus enter and leave the polder via the Voorkanaal along the Geniedijk and through a lock at the Fort near Aalsmeer. This lock was often used to transport sugar beets to the CSM sugar factory in Halfweg. On the former CSM site you will now find the modern business park SugarCity and the outlet shopping paradise Amsterdam The Style Outlets. 
 

Reflection of sunset in the Hoofdvaart near Hoofddorp
Pumping station De Leeghwater at the end of the Hoofdvaart
View of the main canal in Abbenes
One of the three iconic Calatrava bridges over the Hoofdvaart.

Villages along the Hoofdvaart 

You will find several villages along the Hoofdvaart. For example, the two larger villages of Nieuw-Vennep and Hoofddorp, but also the small village of Abbenes, located between Nieuw-Vennep and Buitenkaag. The Hoofdvaart runs straight through the Haarlemmermeerpolder over a length of 20 kilometers, but at Abbenes there is a small kink in the line of the canal.  
 

The highways A5, A9 and A44 run over the Hoofdvaart, as this is an important traffic point. There is also a taxiway to Schiphol's Polderbaan. Three iconic Calatrava bridges have been built over the Hoofdvaart in Hoofddorp and Nieuw-Vennep. These beautiful modern white cable-stayed bridges were designed by Santiago Calatrava and are a real eye-catcher! You can see them popping up in the polder landscape from a long distance. 
 

As you can see, there is plenty to do along the Hoofdvaart. Discover this special canal in Haarlemmermeer and visit one of the many beautiful villages along the water!