Hoofddorp

Understand

Hoofddorp translated in English means Head Village (or Main Village). It's the main village in the former lake named Haarlemmermeer, which turned into a polder due to land reclamation.

Get in

It's only from Amsterdam and it's the closest city to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport ().

Travelling by train from Schiphol is only one stop, about 4 minutes. To Amsterdam Centraal, it is about 25 minutes by train.

Get around

In Hoofddorp transport usually takes place by car or bicycle. There are some bus connections available from Connexxion. mainly passing the Hoofddorp train station, the Burgemeester van Stamplein (Hoofddorp centrum) and the Spaarne hospital. Buses are an easy way to get around. There are frequent bus routes connecting to and from Haarlem.

Buy

The city centre is in fact one big shopping mall, so in daytime there is a lot to do for those who like shopping. However, after the shops are closed there is almost nothing to do in this town.

Eat

Only places to go are some restaurants (which close about 22:00). Outside the city centre next to the highway A4 lays the McDonald's:

Drink

The town has about 3 bars, which are mostly crowded on Friday with young people. The bars close about 01:00 and in the weekend they close between 02:00 and 03:00. There's one big discothèque which is open on Friday and Saturday (sometimes also on Thursday or Sunday). Every month on a Friday there is a very big party from 20:00 till 02:00 for singles which is called Relatieplanet.

Sleep

There are a lot of hotels nearby, because of the vicinity of Schiphol Airport. In the city centre there is only one hotel. File:Overzicht Toren met ingangsportaal gezien vanaf de weg - Hoofddorp - 20407550 - RCE.jpg|Sint Johannes de Doper church File:Achterzijde Hoofdvaartkerk en pastorie.JPG|The Hoofdvaartkerk seen from the back File:Gietstalen observatiekoepel in het voorgebouw - Hoofddorp - 20339331 - RCE.jpg|Remains of the Hoofddorp fort spread amongst the rural countryside around the town File:Mannetje van Hoofddorp 2.jpeg|The 7-metre-tall aluminium "little man of Hoofddorp" File:Nio Amazing Whalejaw 09.jpg|The Amazing Whalejaw, an oversized sculpture that serves as a bus stop next to the Hoofddorp train station File:Eerstelling.jpg|De Ersteling, a historic windmill designated a national monument File:Voormalig raadhuis.JPG|The old Town House of Hoofddorp File:Polderhuis van het waterschap Groot-Haarlemmermeer 2012-09-21 10-50-41.jpg|The Polderhuis, seat of the local water board