Watergraafsmeer

The Watergraafsmeer (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌʋaːtərɣraːfsˈmeːr]) is a polder in North Holland, Netherlands. It was reclaimed in 1629.^[1] In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were many buitenplaatsen in the Watergraafsmeer, though nowadays only one, Frankendael, remains. It is among the lowest-lying parts of Amsterdam (approximately 5 metres below the NAP).

Map of the former municipality Watergraafsmeer in 1869

Buitenplaats Frankendael

Since 1921, the Watergraafsmeer is part of the city of Amsterdam^[2] and its rural character has all but disappeared. It is located in the borough of Amsterdam-Oost. The most important streets in the Watergraafsmeer are the Middenweg and the Kruislaan.

History

During the 17th and 18th centuries, a number of wealthy Amsterdammers (inhabitants of Amsterdam) built buitenplaatsen in the Watergraafsmeer. Today, only the buitenplaats of Frankendael remains. On the Maliebaan, people played jeu de mail.

From 1 May 1817 until 1 January 1921, Watergraafsmeer was an independent municipality with approximately ten thousand inhabitants. In the early 20th century, it was mainly agricultural, with horticulture and cattle breeding.

Famous people

• Johan Cruyff, football player
• Max Euwe, Dutch chess player, Dutch chess champion, world chess champion (1935-37), international chess arbiter
• Nola Hatterman, actress and painter
• Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, graphic artist
• Gerard Reve, Dutch writer
• Karel van het Reve, Dutch writer, translator, literary historian