Amstelveen is a prosperous suburb south of Amsterdam, close to Schiphol Airport. It is not a tourist destination in itself, but it has appeal for visitors staying near the airport or looking for a quieter base than central Amsterdam. The old village centre has been converted largely into restaurants — Argentinian, Indian, French, Italian — and the Stadshart shopping area is modern and well-stocked.
The town has several pleasant parks, including the Jac. P. Thijssepark (a botanical garden arranged by habitat) and access to the vast Amsterdamse Bos forest. The Cobra Museum of Modern Art, dedicated to the post-war CoBrA movement, and the pop venue P60 are the main cultural draws. Amstelveen has a notably large Japanese expat community, reflected in Japanese restaurants and shops.