Gaasperplas

The Gaasperplas is a former quarry district in Amsterdam Zuidoost.

Description

The 72 -acre lake in the polder Zuid Bijlmer was built in the 1960s to reduce the sand that was needed for road and railway embankments in the then new field Bijlmermeer in Amsterdam Zuidoost. First was dug from a thick layer of peat soil and clay, then sand was to a depth of 35 meters aspirated. Since the peaty soil was not completely removed, is located below the water surface partly an unfolded maze of eroded earth walls.

The water level of Gaasperplas is held by the three pumps of the pumping station built in 1972 Gemaal Zuid Bijlmer on the northeastern banks to an average of 2.70 meters below sea Amsterdam Level (NAP ). 40 cubic meters of excess water from the entire polder Zuid Bijlmer and the even deeper Gein and Gaasperpoldern can be pumped into the river Gaasp per minute. In order not to compromise the quality of water in the polder, the area is also regularly supplied water from the river or the Gaasp Abcoudermeer.

From the 1970s, built on the banks of a network of walking and cycling trails. The original planting of 94 acres of parkland surrounding the waters consisted of fast-growing tree species and low-maintenance meadows. Gaasperplas the Amsterdam Metro station was opened as a termination stop of line 53 ( Gaasperplaslijn ) in the north of the lake on 16 October 1977. In the same year began on the northern shore with the establishment of the Gaasperparks for the International Horticultural Exhibition Floriade 1982. Such a landscape park was created with the housing development Nellestein, restaurants, hotels, pavilions, sculptures, rose garden, Promenade, as well as a diverse planting of beech, linden, elm, birch, oak and others.

The lake and the park are part of the recreation area Groengebied Amstel country, a joint project of the province of North Holland and the municipalities Amstelveen, Amsterdam, Diemen and Ouder - Amstel. On the shore, among others, an equestrian trail, barbecue, picnic and play areas, the association Gaasperplas windsurfing, sailing club Zeilvereniging Gaasperplas are ( BMA ) of the Canoe Club Gaasperplas (CCG ), the Eerste Hollandse Drake boat club, the Dragon Boat Club Concrete Dragons, six parking and camping. In and on Gaasperplas eels, pike, perch, zander, roach, tench and crayfish and various aquatic birds.