Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA

The current station Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena started life as Station Bijlmer in 1971 on the Rhijnspoorweg between Amsterdam and Utrecht. Both the platforms and the station buildings were built in wood. Soon after it was decided to change the level track into a high track. In 1976 the new high track situated on an embankment was opened. Between the railway tracks two new tracks for the metro were built. In 1977 the new station was opened for the traveling public. It was the only train station on a main line not designed by a railway architect, instead is was designed as one of the stations on the metro line from the centre of Amsterdam to Gein. The bus station was moved to the east of the station to better connect to the elevated roads of Amsterdam-Zuidoost.

In 2000 work began on the third incarnation of the station under the new name Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA. The number of tracks was doubled to 8, expanding train traffic to Amsterdam and also allowing for a direct connection to Schiphol Airport. The bus station moved back to its former location on the west side of the train tracks. From 2006 the new station was completely opened for all users. The new station is over 100 metres long and extends over the Arena Boulevard, the central axis of the leisure complex west of it with the Football Stadium of Ajax, the Heineken Music Hall, Ziggo Dome (a square box so a misappropriated name), Villa ArenA and the Pathé Cinema-complex. On the eastside lies the largest shopping centre of Amsterdam: Amsterdamse Poort.