Stadsboerderij Zimmerhoeve

Amsterdam runs on canals, cobblestones, and centuries of reinvention. Tucked between the Kinkerbuurt and De Clercqstraat in Oud-West, a tiny working farm sits on land that once forged some of the city’s most iconic street furniture. Stadsboerderij Zimmerhoeve occupies the former grounds of the J. Zimmer & Zn. iron foundry — the very place where Amsterdam’s beloved Amsterdammertjes, those red-brown bollards lining nearly every sidewalk in the city, were first cast in the late 19th century.

Today, instead of molten iron and factory smoke, the site holds grazing goats, lounging pigs, and children learning where food comes from. The transformation from industrial foundry to community farm tells a story about Amsterdam itself: a city that continuously reshapes its spaces to serve the people living in them.

From Iron Foundry to Urban Oasis: The Zimmerhoeve Story

The history beneath your feet at Zimmerhoeve stretches back further than most visitors realize. The J. Zimmer & Zn. iron foundry operated on this plot along the Kostverlorenvaart canal for decades, producing cast-iron bollards, lamp posts, and manhole covers — many of which still stand throughout Amsterdam. After World War II, the foundry also cast replacement church bells for houses of worship across the Netherlands. The factory closed around 1970 and was demolished by the end of that decade.

What happened next defines the character of the Bellamybuurt neighborhood. Rather than allowing developers to claim the empty lot, a local resident named Frits Bottelier stepped in. Known affectionately as “Ome Kick” (Uncle Kick), Bottelier spent the 1970s and 1980s fighting to keep the land open for neighborhood children. He brought in a few chickens and goats, organized play activities, and turned abandoned industrial ground into a green gathering place. The terrain is still informally known as “het landje van Ome Kick” — Uncle Kick’s little plot.

In 1996, the site formally became Stadsboerderij Zimmerhoeve, a registered city farm operated by the Stichting Zimmerhoeve foundation. Ome Kick’s grassroots vision had taken permanent root.

What Makes Zimmerhoeve Worth Visiting

Zimmerhoeve operates as a genuine stadsboerderij — a Dutch city farm designed to connect urban residents with agriculture and animal husbandry. The Bellamybuurt is one of the most densely built neighborhoods in Amsterdam Oud-West, which makes the farm’s green footprint all the more striking.

The animals live in outdoor enclosures and wooden barns spread across the small grounds. Goats roam a grassy paddock outfitted with wooden climbing structures and old tractor tires. Sheep rest in groups on the pasture. Inside the barn, pigs peer over stall gates with the kind of curiosity that catches every child’s attention. Rabbits huddle in sandy enclosures near willow branches, and guinea pigs occupy smaller pens inside the stable area.

Animals You Can Get Close To

The farm is home to goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens. Goat residents have included individuals named Bloem, Lala, and Stippel. The farm holds a quality mark from the vSKBN, the national association for city and children’s farms, and follows the 2022 Amsterdam agreement on positive animal welfare standards.

The Canal Setting

Zimmerhoeve sits directly on the Kostverlorenvaart, one of the older waterways in western Amsterdam. The canal dates to 1413, originally serving as the boundary between the Rijnland and Amstelland water board districts.

Activities and Educational Programs

• Boerderijbrigade (Farm Brigade): Children help with daily farm tasks.
• Koken met de Boerin (Cooking with the Farmer): Combines cooking lessons with learning about the farm.
• Professor Zimmer: A 15-session nature and environment course for primary school students.
• Tuinclub (Garden Club): Young participants sow, tend, and harvest their own vegetables and fruit.

The farm also hosts children’s birthday parties and seasonal workshops during school holidays.

Practical Information

• Address: Schimmelstraat 44, 1053 TH Amsterdam
• Opening Hours: Closed Mondays. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10:30–17:00.
• Admission: Free. ANBI nonprofit status.
• Transit: Tram 13 to Willem de Zwijgerlaan, Tram 17 to Ten Katestraat, Tram 19 to Willem de Zwijgerlaan.
• Accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible. Accessible restroom on-site.
• Contact: 020 683 28 98 / [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions