From the Middle Ages the 'Binnendijksche Buitenveldertse' polder in the rural Amstelland region was part of the Nieuwer-Amstel municipality.

Since then, the Kalfjeslaan on the southside of Buitenveldert has been the city limit.

As part of the Algemene Uitbreidingsplan ('General Expansion Plan') of 1935, the Buitenveldert polder became the site of a new suburb.

In 1958 the first stone was laid for the suburb, which was designed according to the garden city planning principles.

In 1998, the masterplan for the Zuidas business district was adopted by the Amsterdam municipal council.