De Aker - ( The Aker )

De Aker is a district in the south-western part of Amsterdam. The name has been borrowed from the Middelveldsche Akerpolder, in which this district has been lain. In the 19th century this polder was mainly used for horticulture.

The Aker is as compactly built as Nieuw Sloten, whereas the former western garden cities are not. After Ruigoord the Aker is one of the most inhabited parts of the western area of Amsterdam and it borders the ring speedway of the Haarlemmermeerpolder.

The first houses were taken in use by the end of the eighties. This part was called M.A.P. (Middelveldse Akerpolder). In 1990 the rest of the district arose, among others things the Bergenwijk, Merenwijk, Eilandenwijk and Geldwijk.

Since 2001 the tram line 1, originally coming from the Cornelis Lelylaan via the Pieter Calandlaan, has been elongated to the Aker now ending at the Hekla.

The district belongs to the Osdorp quarter and there exists a mixture of low -, means - and high-rise buildings, which were accomplished in 2004.