Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland

It might be hard to imagine here amongst the new housing estates, but Vijfhuizen already existed before the reclamation. At that time, the centre was a little further north on a headland in the Haarlemmermeer. The Kromme Spieringweg was then a protective dike. Continuing to the east, the headland separated the Spieringmeer and the Haarlemmermeer until the 16th century. This was once the main route over land between Haarlem and Amsterdam, until major flooding known as the 'Waterwolf' eliminated it. The construction of the Ringvaart in the mid-19th century split Vijfhuizen in two. The current village is mainly located between the old land and the Geniedijk of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, which was built at the end of the 19th century. Fort Vijfhuizen, the oldest fort of the defensive line, controlled the Ringvaart. It is now used as a restaurant. The Aalsmeer–Haarlem Haarlemmermeer railway ran behind the Geniedijk until 1935. Vijfhuizen station is still there.

• The Vijfhuizen Walk (purple) goes along the edges of Vijfhuizen past the train station, (art) fort, Ringvaart, old village centre and Park Vijfhuizen. Linking to the fortress is a circular walk paved with tombstones, which evokes contemplation. Another place of reflection is the landscape art monument in Park Vijfhuizen that is dedicated to the victims of flight MH17.
• The Geniedijk Route (yellow) near Vijfhuizen leads over the dike, sometimes shared with sheep, along the green areas of Groene Weelde and Haarlemmermeerse Bos, and to the Plesmanhoek, a relatively new area set aside as nature compensation for the expansion of Schiphol.