Located in North Holland, Hoofddorp isn’t as well-known as its Amsterdam neighbour, but it does offer visitors plenty of Dutch allure. In the summer, the city comes to life with events like the Mysteryland dance festival, Concours Hippique horse-jumping competition, Meerlive Dutch youth festival and Hoofddorp Culinair gastronomic celebration. Spring sees the Meer Jazz Festival drench the city centre in soulful sounds, showcasing both local and international acts.
Throughout the year, the Historic Museum Haarlemmermeer is a great place to explore what life was like during the 1850s, when initial lakeside settlements were first founded. A weekly Friday market is a colourful place to sample local delicacies, while the Haarlemmermeerse Bos is a scenic place to get a nature fix.
From Amsterdam, Hoofddorp is just 25-minutes by train. It’s 20 kilometres from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, which takes just 4-minutes on the train. Its close proximity to both the airport and Amsterdam city centre make it a popular place for visitors in search of alternative accommodation, or an interesting day trip.
In Dutch, Hoofddorp draws its name from the words “hoofd” meaning head and “dorp” meaning village. This throws back to its status as the chief settlement of Haarlemmermeer Lake, which has since been turned into flood plains.