In the 1960s, the municipality of Amsterdam came up with an ambitious plan to create a new residential area in the Bijlmermeer with a strict division between living and working. Quality agreements were made about the construction and layout, with plenty of room for greenery and recreation.

In the 1960s, the municipality of Amsterdam came up with an ambitious plan to create a new residential area in the Bijlmermeer with a strict division between living and working. Quality agreements were made about the construction and layout, with plenty of room for greenery and recreation.

The first resident of the Bijlmermeer moved into the Hoogoord flat on 25 November 1968. The Bijlmermeer became nationally known for its social problems. Some of the qualitative principles could not be realized due to budget cuts. Because the level of facilities in the district fell short of the expectations raised at the time of construction, and because the modern, spacious flats had to compete with new single-family dwellings elsewhere in the region, the Amsterdam families for whom the district had been built stayed away. Instead, large groups of underprivileged people concentrated in the neighbourhood, resulting in a predominantly socially rented neighbourhood (first 90% and now 77%) with little diversity. Among these were many immigrants from the 1975 independent colony of Suriname, and later Ghanaians and Antilleans moved in as well. In 1984, mayor van Thijn decided to clean up the centre of Amsterdam and chase away the large group of junkies from the Zeedijk. This group moved to the covered areas and parking garages in the Bijlmer. The result was that certain areas of the Bijlmermeer were plagued by crime, decay and drug-related problems. There was also considerable unemployment. Another sound bite, of course, is that many people enjoy living and working in the Bijlmermeer. The melting pot has also led to an enormous diversity of open and friendly people who are literally creating a new society. In the 1990s, a large-scale renovation operation was set in motion that has now progressed a long way. A large part of the high-rise has been demolished and replaced by smaller-scale housing, including much housing in the owner-occupied sector. The remaining flats are being thoroughly renovated. In addition, many of the original elevated roads (the 'dreven') have been replaced by roads at ground level, through the excavation of the dykes and the demolition of the viaducts. Most of the parking garages from the original design were also demolished in the process. The renewal should lead to a less unbalanced population composition and a more pleasant living environment. The shopping centre in Amsterdamse Poort, which dates back to the 1980s, was also renovated. Amsterdamse Poort was completely renovated in 2000. The district council moved into new offices at Anton de Komplein in 2006.