Bijlmer

Bijlmer is a district in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, in the southeast of Amsterdam, Netherlands. The name commonly refers to Bijlmermeer, a large planned housing project built from the 1960s to the 1970s to address housing shortages. The development consisted of high-rise apartment blocks arranged around centers connected by roads and pedestrian routes, with a ring of green spaces and commercial areas.

In the 1970s and 1980s Bijlmermeer became known for its socio-economic diversity but also faced social problems, crime and neglect. In 1992, El Al Flight 1862 crashed into two apartment towers in Bijlmermeer, killing 43 aboard and residents on the ground. The accident spurred reviews of urban safety and building design and became a turning point in the area's redevelopment.

From the 1990s onward, renewal programs reduced the number of high-rise blocks in favor of mixed-use housing and improved public spaces. The district expanded green spaces, renovated housing, and added new facilities, schools, and shops. The area today comprises several neighborhoods in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, with a multicultural population and a range of housing types. It is known for the Johan Cruyff Arena and the nearby Amsterdam ArenA area, the stadium zone that hosts events and is linked to transportation networks.

Transportation is a key element of Bijlmer, as it is served by the Amsterdam public transport system, including metro and bus lines that connect to Amsterdam Central and other districts, with major stations such as Bijlmer ArenA and Bullewijk. The area remains a core part of the southeastern urban fabric of Amsterdam, combining housing, commerce, and cultural diversity.