Vijfhuizen offers a range of ways to shape a stay: art at Kunstfort, the history of the Stelling van Amsterdam, and routes on foot, by bike or on the water. The MH17 Memorial Site in Park Vijfhuizen is also one of the area’s defining places. When planning, it helps to distinguish fixed exhibition hours from routes. This makes it easy to focus on art, cultural heritage, outdoor activities or remembrance.

Getting there and exhibition hours

Park Vijfhuizen can be reached from Schiphol, Haarlem or Hoofddorp by R-Net bus 300 to the EXPO Greater Amsterdam stop. Free parking is available next to the Camperplaats N205. Check current traffic information before setting off. Kunstfort Vijfhuizen is on an island near Meerwijkplas and is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam waterline. Exhibitions take place across the entire fort island; the outdoor area features changing installations and works of art. The exhibition inside the fort building is open weekly from Thursday to Sunday, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Kunstfort and the history of the waterlines

12 SLAG is also part of the Fietsroute Water: the site lies along this route. It leads to Vijfhuizen, passes the modern Gemaal Koning Willem I, and then follows the Geniedijk towards Fort bij Vijfhuizen. The Geniedijk is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam, a historic defensive line that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also serves as a cycling and walking route and as an ecological corridor. In the wider region, the Geniedijk is 12 kilometres long, runs through Hoofddorp and ends in Aalsmeer. This length and route describe the Geniedijk as a whole; for local route planning, the specific sections of the path are also relevant.

Paths, park and remembrance

For a walk, follow the purple-marked Ommetje Vijfhuizen circular route along the edge of the village. Park Vijfhuizen has numerous walking paths and cycling routes. Another perspective is offered by the Spaarne & Mooie Nel canoe route: it leads onto the Ringvaart of the Haarlemmermeer and continues along it to beyond Vijfhuizen. This offers a choice of different ways to get around, without requiring them to be combined into a single route. Check the latest information about each path before setting out.

Park Vijfhuizen is a recreation area with a children’s playground, the MH17 Memorial Forest and a monument. The Nationaal Monument MH17 commemorates the victims of the plane crash with 298 trees, each representing one victim. The memorial site also includes an intimate amphitheatre and an impressive monument. The grounds offer space for reflection, comfort and hope. The park thus combines recreation and outdoor activities with a place of remembrance, whose purpose differs from that of the walking and cycling routes.

Historic places and structures

The historic duck decoy in Vijfhuizen is on the municipal monuments list. It consists of two hectares of coppice woodland and a rectangular pond measuring approximately 40 by 40 metres. There is a capture pipe at each corner. The duck decoy is considered a unique natural monument, with around 100 plant species and 32 tree species. The details about its area, pond shape and capture pipes give a clear impression of the site, while its inclusion on the monuments list reflects its cultural and historical significance. The Vijfhuizerbrug is also a notable structure: the lift bridge crosses the Ringvaart and was built in 1931. It adds a 20th-century structure to the history of the waterlines.

Discover more destinations: Schiphol-Rijk, Schiphol, Hoofddorp, Badhoevedorp, Nieuw-Vennep, Lijnden, Zwanenburg, Halfweg.

For the broader travel overview: Haarlemmermeer.