Legmeerbos is now official, partly thanks to SLS

A green area from the Westeinderplassen to the Amstel, right through the middle of her neighbourhood: that was the dream of Legmeer resident and then chair of Buurtbeheer de Legmeer Marga Moeijes. She came into contact with Schiphol’s Living Environment Foundation in 2017 during a residents' meeting. The foundation believes that residents should be involved in drawing up the plans and projects to which it contributes and was therefore happy to enter into discussions.

The meeting turns out to be the beginning of a long but ultimately successful journey. After the first meeting with SLS, the ball starts rolling. Buurtbeheer de Legmeer enlists the help of landscape architect Henk Schuitemaker in the summer of 2019. Together with the municipality of Uithoorn and SLS, he sets to work to make the dream of a wooded park in the neighbourhood a reality.

Workshops and consultations with residents of the neighbourhood follow, and together they think about what the park should look like. When everyone is satisfied with the design and the municipality of Uithoorn abandons its own plans for the area after a petition signed by 1,300 people, they can start doing the spadework.

The park was officially opened at the end of October 2024. Many parties have contributed to the creation of the Legmeerbos in recent years, from the municipality to the province. With a contribution of €530,000, SLS is almost entirely responsible for the funding.

Schiphol's Living Environment Foundation is financed by Schiphol, the government and the province of North Holland. The foundation initiates and supports (private) initiatives that improve the living environment and increase social cohesion in the neighbourhood. More information about SLS can be found here. 

Want to know more about how the Legmeerbos came about and who helped make it happen? Watch [this documentary.