Amsterdam

Pocket Atlas

Am

sterdam

Po

cket Atlas

City of Amsterdam

Metropolis with a human scale

Cities are complex systems. They are the spatial and physical embodiment of

centuries of social and economic development. Since humans first settled here, it

has taken 800 years for Amsterdam to evolve into the city it is today: a dynamic

and lively metropolis with a wonderful historic city centre; a metropolis with a

human scale.

Spatial and physical changes in the city and the surrounding region result from all

kinds of economic pressures, from people who wish to reside here to large com-

panies choosing the city for their headquarters. Major factors in this include the

attractive location close to water, a fine international airport and a highly educat-

ed workforce.

This Atlas attempts to provide an impression of Amsterdam at the start of the

21st century. It presents a survey of the current situation in urban planning in the

broad sense, with a focus on the city’s developmental history and a glance at

recent developments.

The aim when compiling this Atlas was not to present a complete overview of

planning in Amsterdam. It simply provides a concise selection of the city’s

‘hardware’ and ‘software’.

Ir. Klaas W. de Boer

Managing Director

Physical Planning Department

City of Amsterdam

1

Introduction 2

Some basic facts 3

How to get there 4

Historical inner city 5

Blue 6

Amsterdam and the sea level 7

Green city 8

Changing population 10

Scale 11

Administrative borders 12

Spatial restrictions 13

History and timetable 14

Residential areas 16

Architecture before1980 18

Architecture after 1980 19

Investments in culture and creativity 20

Major events and tourist highlights 22

Public space 24

University city 25

Economic activities 26

Schiphol Airport 28

Port of Amsterdam 29

Main road network 30

Main bicycle network 31

Public transport networks 32

Parking 34

Waste water 36

Energy from waste 37

Amsterdam Structure Plan 2003-2010 38

Investment Programme 39

Major projects and urban regeneration 40

Waterfront developments 42

Zuidas 44

Southeast/ArenA 45

IJburg 46

The North/South Line under construction 47

Contents

2

745,000

Inhabitants •

3Some basic facts

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and its largest city, with 745,000inhabitants and 378,000 dwellings.

Unlike most other countries, the Dutch national government does not reside inthe country’s capital but in The Hague.

Amsterdam is the financial heart of the Netherlands. Other important economicsectors are trade, business services, tourism, culture and education. Creativityand innovation are very important pillars for the Amsterdam economy.Amsterdam is located at latitude 52º22’ N and longitude 4º51’ E.

The Netherlands■ 16.3 million inhabitants■ Strategic location in Europe■ No. 8 direct investor in the world*■ No. 4 recipient of foreign direct investment in the world*■ No. 1 for openness of national culture in the European Union*

*Source: World Competitiveness Yearbook, IMD, 2003

52º22’ N

4

Amsterdam boasts an airport with excellent facilities just 10 km from the city centre. Schiphol Airport is part of a worldwide network of connections.Amsterdam has good connections with the European motorway network.The city enjoys three international rail links, two to the south (Belgium, France)and one to the east (Germany). The High Speed Train to Paris will be operationalin 2007. Accessibility by water is also excellent; about 90 large cruise ships and650 river cruisers dock in Amsterdam every year.

How to get there

�Schiphol Airport

•

SchipholTrain Station

XA1

IJ-meer lake

•

Amsterdam-Rhine Canal

•

North SeaCanal

XA10

XA10

XA2

XA4

XA8

XA9

XA9

•

Passenger Terminal

•

BijlmerTrain Station

•

Amsterdam Central Station

•

SouthStation

5

The historical inner city is Amsterdam’s leading attraction. It enjoys the monumentstatus and is distinctive for its semicircular layout of concentric canals. Thesecanals, designed in 1613, are traversed by radial roadways that connect with therest of the city.

The city centre covers an area of more than 800 ha, of which 174 ha is water:canals, the River Amstel and the IJ inlet. Many of the blocks defined by canals surround large green gardens. The area of green space in the city centre, publicgreen space and greenery within perimeter blocks, amounts to 36 ha.Though employment in the city centre has fallen markedly over the last 40 years,it is still Amsterdam’s most important concentration of work activity, with 83,700jobs. The number of people residing in the city centre has climbed to 81,000 overrecent years.

Historical inner city

6

Water has been the key element in Amsterdam’s successes. The influence ofwater is clearly evident in the growth of the region, which is set between the saltwater of the North Sea and the fresh water of the IJsselmeer lake. Water has alsobeen a decisive factor in inner-city development, from the digging of the 17th-century semicircular layout of concentric canals to the new IJburg city district,which is currently under construction on artificial islands in the IJmeer lake. Thisribbon of waterside development can be subdivided into three highly distinctareas: port basins to the west, nature to the east and the city in between.

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The River Amstel with the Magere Brug

(‘Skinny Bridge’)

The IJ waterway with a view of the city centre

The ‘Nieuwe Meer’ Lake

Skating on the Keizersgracht

7

Three centuries ago, a standard ordnance datum (N.A.P.) was established inAmsterdam, based on the average high-water mark of the Zuiderzee, which wasAmsterdam’s connection with the North Sea. This ordnance datum was – and is –the point of reference for constructions of any kind in the Netherlands. Large parts of Amsterdam are located below sea level, with certain polders set atmore than 6 meters below N.A.P. Vast system of dikes and pumps ensure that theinhabitants of Amsterdam don’t get their feet wet.

Amsterdam and the sea level

•

– 4,80 m•

– 5,55 m

•

– 5,70 m

•

– 2,45 m •

+ 0,70 m

•

– 6,20 m

•

– 2,20 m

•

– 1,30 m

•

– 2,00 m

8

Amsterdam is a green city. There has been a great deal of attention to greeneryin urban planning since the early 20th century, and that also applies for Amster-dam. In the General Extension Plan (1935), greenery was actually one of thestructuring elements. Besides a rich tradition in the creation and landscaping ofparks, there has always been plenty of consideration for integrating the city inthe landscape. To the north, for example, there is a sharply defined boundarybetween the city and Waterland, a centuries-old tract of reclaimed peat meadows,whereas built-up areas protrude into the green areas like fingers to the west,south and southeast: Amsterdam’s urban form could be described as a ‘fingerplan’, with an outline resembling the extended fingers of a hand surrounded by wedges of greenery. The most important green elements are set out in the so-called Main Green Structure, ensuring them extra protection.

Green city

• •

••

•

9

The Karthuizerhof almhouses

The Ververstraat behind the Zuiderkerk

Singelgracht near the Leidse Bosje

Allotment gardens near the Nieuwe Diep Lake

Vondelpark

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Amsterdam has a dynamic population. The annual inflow and outflow of residentshas remained in equilibrium over recent years (about 43,000 in 2004). The city’sattraction for young adults and the function that Amsterdam fulfils in the field ofhigher education play an important part in this.

In the period 1960-85, the city’spopulation shrank by about200,000. Since the mid-1980s,Amsterdam’s population has beengrowing again at a slow but steadypace. In 2004, the number of inhabi-tants increased by 4, 200, and thetotal population grew to 743,000.

The growth of the population in2004 was mainly due to the birthrate: 10,600 children were born. The number of families with childrenis increasing. This development isthe inverse of the situation in mostother Western European cities.Almost half of Amsterdam’s inhabi-tants live in a family context, andthis proportion is growing.

Amsterdam is an international city.Like other big cities, the number ofsingle-person households is high:54%. The population is also madeup of more than 170 nationalities.Almost 40% of the population consists of ethnic minorities fromnon-industrialized countries.Younger age groups are especiallyprominent among ethnic minorities,as can be seen in the populationpyramid.

Changing population

10 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Men x 1000 Women x1000

Population by age, sex and ethnic group, 1 January 2005

Age

100

95

90

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Ethnic groups rest of the population

Number and percentage of families with children compared withthe number of households, 1 January 1983-2005

x 1000

120

116

112

108

104

100

96

92

88

84

80

30

29

28

27

26

25

24

23

22

21

201985 1990 1995 2000 2005

abs. %

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Source: O+S Amsterdam

11Scale

New York CityManhattan

Paris

•

Central park

•

Times Square

•

Eiffel tower

12

Looking inside AmsterdamThe city of Amsterdam has two administrative levels: the city-wide municipalityand the city districts.Amsterdam (745,000 inhabitants) is subdivided into 14 city districts that range in size from 31,000 to 88,000 inhabitants. These districts, which have an electeddistrict council and a district executive, fulfil almost all of the tasks of an inde-pendent municipality. Amsterdam’s municipal executive and city council areresponsible for matters that extend beyond the boundaries of a single city district, or exceeds its power, and they decide the municipal budget.

Looking outside AmsterdamAmsterdam participates in the Regionaal Orgaan Amsterdam (ROA, or 'City Regionof Amsterdam'), a collaboration between 16 municipalities. The ROA has aregional executive that is selected from the councils of the participating munici-palities. The tasks of the ROA are focused on traffic, public transport, housingpolicy, economic affairs and youth welfare. The ROA has 1.5 million inhabitants.In turn, the ROA is part of the Randstad conurbation, which is one of the biggermetropolitan areas in Europe with a population of 6.6 million. Amsterdam is also part of the Province of North Holland, which has its adminis-trative seat in Haarlem.

Administrative borders

13

The possibilities for the further expansion of Amsterdam within its municipalboundaries are limited. The city is wedged between the protected ‘green zones’of the so-called Green Heart to the south and rural Waterland to the north. The noise nuisance contours around Schiphol Airport limit the opportunities forurban growth on the west side of the city. IJburg, an urban district on manmadeislands in the IJmeer lake, is under construction to the east of the city. Within thecity boundaries, the noise and environmental nuisance contours around industryand the port also impose the requisite spatial restrictions.

Spatial restrictions

14 History

1300 1400

1625 1725 1900

1600

•

1824 Great North-Holland Canal

•

1876 North Sea Canal

•

1966 Coen Tunnel

•

1839 First railway lineto Haarlem

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1916 SchipholAir Field

•

First 1975 Metroline

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1968 IJ Tunnel

•

1892 AmsterdamRhine Canal

�•Schiphol

1967 Airport

•

1990 Last partRing Road A-10

15Time table

c. 1200 Earliest evidence of human habita-tion along the River Amstel27 October 1275 First recorded mentionof this settlementc. 1514 13,500 inhabitants (Antwerp had c.40,000 and London had c. 40,000)c. 1600 Amsterdam has developed intothe most important port and trading city,and is the centre of political power in theRepublic of the Seven United Netherlands1600-1830 Population increases from c. 60.000 in 1600 to c. 100,000 in 1620 and c. 200,000 in 1660, then remains more orless stable until 18301613 Start of expansion around themedieval city core: Amsterdam acquires its semi-circular form2 December 1813 Amsterdam becomesthe capital of the Kingdom of the Nether-lands. However, the seat of national govern-ment is The Hague 13 December 1824 Completion of theGreat North Holland Canal connects thecity with the North Sea, representing a sig-nificant time advantage for shipping1829-1834 Measures are introduced tocombat the silting up of the port: theEastern and Western Docks are dug1830- Gas, electricity, sewers, telephone,transport and water supply networks areestablished, mostly on private initiative 20 September 1839 Opening of the firstrailway line in the Netherlands: Amsterdam-Haarlem1840-1875 Gradual increase in the popula-tion, from 202,000 in 1830 to 288,000 in187513 February 1850 City authorities establisha Public Works Department1870- First new city expansion projectsafter a gap of more than 250 years1875-1950 Explosive increase in the num-ber of inhabitants: c. 515,000 in 1900, c. 725,000 in 1925 to c. 872,000 in 19591 November 1876 Opening of the NorthSea Canal directly connects the city withthe North Sea, representing a further reduc-tion in sailing time for shipping1915 Founding of the Municipal HousingDepartment: Amsterdam City Council startsto build housing on its own initiative

1916 ‘Schiphol’ Military Airfield is estab-lished to the southwest of the city, and willeventually develop into the national airport 1920-1980 Urban expansion around the19th-century city core1 September 1928 Founding of themunicipal Town Planning Department withinthe Public Works Department1934 Layout and planting of theAmsterdamse Bos woodland park, a work-creation project during the GreatDepression1950-present Renovation of the 16th-,17th-, 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century citydistricts1950-2000 Expansion of the port areatowards the west1960-present Gradual decline in thenumber of inhabitants to c. 675,500 in1985, followed by a gradual increase to745,000 in 20061966 City expanded by annexing neigh-bouring municipalities for more than 100years. Since 1996 the municipal boundarieshave been fixed 1966 Start of construction of the Bijlmer-meer, a futuristic residential district to thesoutheast of the city1966 Opening of the Coen Tunnel, a roadtunnel under the North Sea Canal that con-nects the city with the hinterland to thenorth1968 Opening of the IJ Tunnel, a roadtunnel connecting Amsterdam-North withthe rest of the city1968-1993 Construction of the Ring RoadA-10 road around the city1975 Opening of the first metro line, partof which runs underground1989 Masterplan for residential areas onthe islands in the Eastern Harbour District2000-2005 Masterplans for the develop-ment of the IJ-oevers (Banks of the IJ) andZuidas (South Axis)2001 First pile is driven in IJburg, a newresidential district constructed on artificialislands in the IJmeer lake 2004 Start of construction of the North/South Line, a metro line betweenAmsterdam-North and the Zuid/WTCstation

16 Residential areas

•

•

•

Amsterdam’s ‘grachtengordel’, the historic semi-

circle of concentric canals, near the Leidsestraat

Silodam

Frans Halsstraat in De Pijp Extension plan Amsterdam South / H.P. Berlage

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The ‘Rupelmonde’ country estate on the River

Vecht near Nieuwersluis

Bijlmermeer: Family dwellings and large-scale

buildings in the Bijlmer

Durgerdam

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18 Architecture before 1980

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Former stock exchange,

architect: H.P. Berlage, 1903

Post office and housing:

Museum Het Schip (‘The Ship’),

architect: M. de Klerk, 1920

Royal Palace on the Dam,

architect: J. van Campen, 1648

The Rijksmuseum, architect: P.J.H. Cuypers, 1885

‘Het Burgerweeshuis’ (‘The Orphanage’) socio-

agogical centre, architect: A. van Eyck, 1960

Openluchtschool (‘Open-Air School’),

architect: J. Duiker, 1930

19Architecture after 1980

•• •

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Housing for senior citizens on the

Reimerswaalstraat, architect: MVRDV, 1997

Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, centre for modern and

contemporary music, architect: 3xN, 2005

School building, architect: H. Hertzberger, 1983

Rear view of the houses on the Scheeps-

timmermanstraat on the Borneo/ Sporenburg

peninsula, various architects, 1999

‘The Whale’ housing block on the Borneo/

Sporenburg peninsula, architect: de Architekten

Cie., Frits van Dongen, 1995

ING Bank headquarters, architect: Meyer en Van

Schooten, 2002

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20 Investments in culture

••

•

••

••

• ••

•

••

•••

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•••••

•••

Plan for the new Film Museum on the North

bank of the IJ waterway, architect: Delugan

Meisll Associated Architects

ARCAM Amsterdam Centre for Architecture,

architect: René van Zuuk Architekten bv,

2003

Plan for the new VandenEnde Theatre complex,

architects: Jo Coenen and Arno Meijs

Plan for Amsterdam’s new Public Library,

architect: Jo Coenen&Co Architekten

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For 24 projects, various levels of government (the City of Amsterdam, nationalgovernment, the city districts and the European Union) and private partners areinvesting approximately €1 billion between 2003 and 2008.In the urban economy, services (e.g. in relation to tourism) and creative processesare gradually becoming more important than industrial products. Culture andentertainment play an increasingly important role in the typical urban mix of func-tions that makes existing and new urban areas attractive and successful.

For example, the Central Public Library and the Music Conservatory being builton the Oosterdokseiland (Eastern Dock Island) ensure that this newly developedarea will be vibrant and lively, 24 hours a day.

21

In order to meet the need for studios and home/workplaces, the city launched aspecial project called ‘BroedplaatsAmsterdam’. The project aims to provide alter-native work locations for individual visual and performing professional artists andclusters of primarily cultural entrepreneurs. With the current scarcity on the prop-erty market and rocketing property prices there is virtually no space left for artistsand non-commercial cultural entrepreneurs.

Creativity

p

Amsterdam is striving to create affordable space for creative people and artists. That is why the citydecided to invest more than € 32 million in 37broedplaatsen (‘cultural incubators’) in the period2000-2005, resulting in almost 700 working placesfor artists. In total more than 48,000 m2 was added. The project will be continued over the coming years.

De Bonte Zwaan, a floating complex with studios

and business premises

Studios for artists in the workshop of a former

shipyard (NDSM Wharf)

Former Quarantine building,

with studios, a gallery and a

café/restaurant

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22 Major events

••

•

Every year on 30 April: Queen’s Day celebrations

throughout the whole city

Every year in November: the entry of St Nicholas

The Concertgebouw

Every first weekend in August: ‘Pride Amsterdam’

gay event

Self portrait by

Vincent van Gogh

Self portrait by

Rembrandt van Rijn

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23Tourist highlights

• •

•

•

••

•

The Netherlands Maritime Museum

Every five years: ‘Sail Amsterdam’ nautical event

Artis Zoo

Canal cruise through the historical city centre

Every summer: the Surinamese Kwakoe Summer

Festival

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24

The interaction between residents, visitors and those working in the city takesplace in and around public places. The attractiveness of these public spaces iscurrently a key factor in selecting a place to live, work or visit. Today’s smallerbusinesses are also attracted by a diverse urban environment, with the requiredknowledge base, skills, information and other services close at hand. The qualityof public space is therefore no longer only determined by its aesthetic character-istics, but also by the accessibility of amenities established in or around it. This isthe reason for the provision of versatile, attractive public spaces at a number oflocations in the city, the so-called ‘multi-recreational environments’.

Public space

Terrace in the Vondelpark

Modern canals and bridges on the Java Island Noordermarkt

Houseboats in the canals

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UniversitiesUniversity of Amsterdam (UvA) 23,800 studentsVrije Universiteit (VU) 17,100 students

Higher vocational educationHogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA) 23,400 studentsHogeschool InHolland 10,000 studentsGerrit Rietveld Academy 900 studentsHES School of Economics and Busines 5,000 studentsAmsterdam School of the Arts (AHK) 2,600 students

Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten (visual art) 60 students

University city

Education is one of the pillars of Amsterdam’s economy. Amsterdam is by far themost important city in the Netherlands in terms of education, with more than82,000 students in higher education, spread over two universities and severalinstitutions for higher vocational education. Students bring live to the city andtake full advantage of facilities in the domains of culture and creativity, sport andnightlife.The demand for highly educated employees keeps growing, and many graduatesremain in Amsterdam to work once they have completed their studies.Housing for students ( ) is a problem in the current housing market – studentaccommodation is a high priority at the moment. The volume of housing builtfor students over the last 5 years amounts to 3,600 units, of which 3,000 units

are temporary accommodation in containers and prefab units. This policy will be continued over the coming years, but with greater emphasis on permanent housing. The construction of a further 930 permanent student dwellings will commence in 2006.

26

During the 1960s, Amsterdam was faced with some difficult decisions. The grow-ing economy in the historical city centre needed more space. One option was toextend the economic activities from the inner city into the so-called 19th-centuryquarters, where housing and living conditions were rather poor. This concept ofconcentric development eventually fell by the wayside and Amsterdam opted forthe model of ‘clustered deconcentration’ of economic activities. New economicdevelopment zones were planned along the western and southern sections ofAmsterdam’s ring road and later also along the eastern line of the metro. Thismodel still prevails, although new developments show the demand for a bettermix of economic activities and other functions, such as housing and public amenities.

During the 1960s it was also decided to extend the Port of Amsterdam westwardalong the North Sea Canal.The new economy and the creative sector of today are once again creating ademand for mixed neighbourhoods. Many start-up companies in the arts, mediaand entertainment industry are adopting the 19th-century areas as their base,thus enjoying the possibilities of interaction in the immediate vicinity. Former harbor areas can successfully be transformed into ‘incubators’ for expanding businesses and trendy hotspots.

Economic activities

••

•

•

•

27

Teleport

The Teleport area is a monofunctional sub-centre

that has been developed over the last 20 years

around the Sloterdijk railway and metro station

as a hub for companies that make intensive use

of telecommunications, including several call cen-

tres and software companies. Total office space:

400,000 m2. Professional education: 30,000 m2.

City centre

Amsterdam city centre still has the greatest con-

centration of economic activity in the region,

with nearly 84,000 jobs. The accent is on the

business services, education, government admin-

istration and tourism sectors. The development

of the banks of the IJ waterway over the coming

decades represents an important addition to the

city centre.

De Omval

The Rembrandt Tower (150 metres) is home to

several internationally oriented businesses, the

Breitner Tower houses the international head-

quarters of Philips, and the Mondriaan Tower

accommodates the national headquarters of the

Delta Lloyd insurance company. Total office

space: 110,000 m2. Higher vocational education:

70,000 m2.

Zuidas (South Axis)

The approval of the Zuidas Masterplan in 1998

marked the start of the long-term development

of a mixed-use area of high-quality offices (espe-

cially for international headquarters), public

amenities, cultural facilities and housing. The

international headquarters of ABN AMRO Bank

and ING Group bank/insurers have already

established themselves here, along with national-

ly and internationally oriented law firms.

Southeast

The ArenA area, a mixed zone with the

Amsterdam ArenA (Ajax football club's 50,000-

seat home stadium), a new concentration of

leisure activities (80,000 m2), a large-scale shop-

ping mall and offices.

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Schiphol Airport is an international hub for trade, distribution, passenger trafficand other activities. It serves more than 200 destinations in 83 countries. Mostdestinations are less than 3 hours from Amsterdam by air.

The airport is of great importance forAmsterdam, providing 57,000 jobs atthe airport complex itself and a fur-ther 50,000 indirect jobs. It accountsfor about 2% of GDP.

Schiphol ranks as Europe’s 4th airportfor cargo, after London, Paris andFrankfurt, and ranks 11th worldwide. It also ranks 4th in Europe in terms ofpassenger volume and ranks 15thworldwide.Schiphol’s noted qualities include the‘single-terminal’ concept, easy trans-fers and the comprehensive networkof connections.

Schiphol Airport

Platform

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Passengers Schiphol 2005Total 44,2 mln

Origin & Destination passengers

58%

Tranferpassengers

42%

29

The Port of Amsterdam ranks fifth in northwestern Europe, with annual tranship-ment of about 70 million tonnes of cargo. The port area offers a wide variety offacilities that cater for a whole range of business sectors, focusing on efficienttransit and processing of incoming and outgoing general, bulk and containercargo.

Facilities and terminalsAmsterdam plays an important role asa logistical junction for incoming andoutgoing goods to and from continen-tal Europe. A major part of the rawmaterials unloaded in Amsterdam areprocessed to customer specifications.Value-added logistics is one of theport’s main activities.

The Port of Amsterdam has excellentconnections via waterways, road andrail. Schiphol is just a 20-minute driveaway – a great advantage for compa-nies conducting international business. Amsterdam is also a favourite touristdestination. Every year Amsterdamwelcomes almost 90 ocean-going lin-ers and over 650 river cruisers.

Port of Amsterdam

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Ceres Terminal

Passenger Terminal Amsterdam

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30

The main road network keeps the city accessible for motorized traffic from out-side the city as well as for traffic between the city districts. Through traffic is concentrated on the most appropriate roads: less noise nuisance, improvementof road safety and thus a more liveable city. The main road network is connectedwith the national trunk roads, the main routes from neighbouring municipalitiesand the city’s parking facilities.

Main road network

XMain road

Share in transport

car 41%

31

Amsterdam boasts an intricate web of cycle paths. No less than 77% of the pop-ulation owns one or more bicycles. That gives an average of 1.27 bicycles/person,and 67% of the population uses a bike at least once a month.Just over a third (34%) of Amsterdam’s residents travel to work by bike. In termsof journey time, the bike’s biggest competitor for distances up to 7.5 km is thecar, not counting the time spent searching for a parking spot. Though it isincreasing slightly, bike use among the immigrant population remains lower thanwith Amsterdam’s native population.The greater use of bikes contributes to a reduction in the number of car journeys.Increasing comfort for cyclists is a precondition for encouraging this. This requiresthe laying of new cycle paths that are protected from other traffic and paved withasphalt. Measures are also being taken to substantially increase the number ofsecure storage facilities at public transport hubs and stations.

Main bicycle network

TMain bicycle routes

Intensity of Bike Use

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Share in transport

bicycle37%

32

Amsterdam’s public transport system accounts for 240 million passenger journeysper annum. Including metro stations, the Gemeentelijk Vervoersbedrijf (GVB, orMunicipal Transport Company) maintains 1,900 stops in and around Amsterdam.

Metro networkAmsterdam’s metro network is relatively modern. The underground section of theexisting metro lines was constructed by building caissons at ground level andthen allowing them to sink into the soft substratum, which primarily consists ofpeaty soil. The boring of deeper tunnels was still technically impossible at thattime. The first metro line was opened in 1976 and three new lines have beenadded since.

Public transport networks

WMetro lines YFerry routes

33

Tram networkAmsterdam has a finely meshed tram network, with both radial and tangentiallines. There are a great many stops, especially in the city centre and the surrounding19th-century districts. Many tramlines – unlike bus and metro – travel through the city’s shopping streets, thus ensuring good accessibility.Various sections of the network have been expanded over recent years, for example between the Central Station and the new residential district of IJburg. A number of other tramlines have been extended. The 16 tramlines travel overmore than 80 km of dedicated track.

VTram lines

Share in transport

publictransport

22%

34

Amsterdam has an Integrated Dynamic Parking Guidance System. It directsvisitors arriving in the city by car to a vacant parking space. This system uses real-time information.The city has three ‘parking rings’. Each ring has a number of car parks that arerepeatedly signposted. If a car park is full, then signs indicate the closest garagewith vacant spaces. The closer to the centre you park your car, the higher thehourly rate.

Parking

Ring road A 10 P+R €

Centre ring S100 P €€

City ring P €€€

35

Electronic signs direct

visitors to the P+R sites

Undergrond parking

at the Silodam

The Europarking

on the Marnixstraat

P+R Parking in Sloterdijk

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36

The purification capacity of the existing Waste water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in the east and the south of Amsterdam will be accommodated in a single newwaste water treatment plant in Amsterdam’s West Port Area. To achieve this, the existing sewage system had to be extended with a further 49 kilometres ofpressurized sewage pipeline. Four new pumping stations had to be built in orderto pump the wastewater through the conduit system.

For the purification of the waste water, the new WTP utilizes state-of-the-art technology and therefore complies with the most rigorous environmental require-ments. The capacity amounts to approximately 1,000,000 p.e. One p.e. (people equivalent) is the average amount of waste water produced perinhabitant per day. Purified water will drain into the Amerikahaven dock basin.

The amount of fuel and chemicalsconsumed in the purification processis kept to a minimum. Thanks to thecooperation with the Waste andEnergy Company, the amount ofwaste matter produced will be verylimited.

Waste water

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Waste water treatment plant

•

37

Amsterdam’s tram and metro system, its street lighting, civic centre and operahouse are some of the amenities that use electricity generated from waste. This amount is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 155,000 dwellings.The heat is supplied directly to local companies and 15,000 households in thedistrict Amsterdam West.

The aim of the Afval Energie Bedrijf (Waste and Energy Company) is the produc-tion of sustainable energy and high-quality building materials from urban solidwaste. The mission is to maximize the use of waste.The amount of waste it can process is 2,600 tonnes/day, which is the equivalentof the waste produced by 1.25 million households in a year.The level of emissions of the incinerator is less than 20% of permitted levels. Yetthe Afval Energie Bedrijf still has the lowest costs and tariffs in the Netherlands.

Realization of the world’s first waste-fired power plant will commence in 2007,using a high-tech combination of proven technologies. Net electric efficiency willrise by up to 30%.

The power plant is set to become theworld’s biggest waste-to-energy plant,generated from 1.3 million tonnes ofurban waste per annum.The area will evolve into a sustainableindustrial complex, with other compa-nies locating close by in order toexploit synergy between differentwaste flows and processes.

The first step has been taken: a partnership with the city’s WaterManagement and Waste waterDepartment (Waternet). The sewagesludge from the waste water treat-ment plant is incinerated; in return itreceives its energy supply.

Energy from waste

Waste-fired power plant

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38

The Structure Plan sets out the main thrust of the policy that the municipalauthorities wish to pursue with respect to the city’s spatial and physical develop-ment. The land use and zoning plans authored by the city districts are testedagainst the Structure Plan. The Structure Plans also provides a vision on the spatial development of the region.

The Amsterdam Structure Plan has replaced the provincial plan, a situation that isunique in the Netherlands. Municipality and Province work together closely inorder to coordinate and harmonize their respective policies.

The followings areas are central to the Structure Plan 2003-2010: realization ofintensive and mixed-use environments, optimal connections with public transportnetworks, a high-quality network of cycle paths, improvement of accessibility viaroad, rail and water, improvement of the quality of water and greenery, thedevelopment of Schiphol Airport into an international aviation hub, developmentof the seaport, concentration of business activities that have an environmentalimpact along the North Sea Canal, and the improvement of accessibility in theSchiphol Airport-Amsterdam zone.

Amsterdam Structure Plan 2003-2010

39

The Investment Programme 2004 provides an overview of all the constructionprojects that are scheduled to start within the next 10 to 15 years. The construc-tion of new dwellings, offices, industrial areas and public amenities, as well as theconstruction of roads and railways, must prepare Amsterdam for the future.

The Programme is drafted in cooperation with representatives of municipaldepartments, businesses, the city’s district councils and representatives fromother relevant parties.

Besides an inventory of spatial projects, the Programme also includes a list ofpriorities. In that assessment, the considerations include the demographic andspatio-economic expectations for the Amsterdam region and the financial meansneeded to realize the plans. The Investment Programme is reviewed every fouryears.

Investment Programme

40

There is probably no other comparable city in Europe where so much construc-tion activity is going on simultaneously. Urban expansion, changes in function forobsolete port districts, urban renewal, expansion of the port and the airport, newinfrastructure, and the layout and infill of new, high-quality business and officedistricts – it seems as if the whole city is ‘under construction’. However, the firstresults are starting to become clearly visible. There is a new and renewed city inthe making, and it is one which can boast sufficient quality to meet the chal-lenges of the coming decades and provide the city’s inhabitants with a fine livingand working environment.

Major projects

•

IJburg•

Zeeburgereiland•

Northern IJembankment

•

Southeast/ArenA

•

TeleportSloterdijk

•

Eastern HarbourDistrict

•

Zuidas

•

North/SouthLine

•

Southern IJembankment

41

Focus Areasnew dwellings 3,800renovation 8,500improvement of public spaceand green areas 43 hapublic facilities 27,000 m2

Amsterdam Northnew dwellings 1,429demolition 810renovation 220 improvement of public space and green areas 29 hapublic facilities 38,000 m2

Parkstadnew dwellings 12,000 demolition 6,000renovation 1,462improvement of public space and green areas 166 hapublic facilities 172,000 m2

Bijlmermeernew dwellings 8,600demolition 6,500renovation 6,000improvement of public spaceand green areas 179 hapublic facilities 53,000 m2

Urban regeneration

Much of the housing constructed between 1950 and 1970 no longer meets modern-day standards. Furthermore, the composition of the housing stock isextremely one-sided and serious social problems arise there. Amsterdam has chosen to tackle these problems.Urban regeneration is a massive operation aimed at improvement of the econom-ic, social and physical domains in these outdated neighbourhoods. The ultimategoal is to realize neighbourhoods with a mix of functions and high-quality publicspace for a diverse population. Construction of more owner-occupied housing is one of the ways to achievethese objectives. The propagation of 'liveability' (attractive, sustainable and safe residential envi-ronments) also plays an important part in this. Because of the scarcity of space, it is the task of planners to make optimum use of the space available in theseareas. Building in high densities and dual land use provide a positive boost forvitality on the street, one of the basic requirements for urbanity.

42 Waterfront developments

•

Station Island

•

Shell site

•

NDSM-shipyard

•

Silodam

•

Westerdokseiland (Western Dock Island

•

•

Houthavens(Timber Docks) •

•

©CIIID

© DRO © DRO

43

Oosterdokseiland (Eastern Dock Island)

Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ/ Passenger Terminal

Oostelijk Havengebied(Eastern Harbour District)

•

IJburg

•

Zeeburger Island

Silodam

2nd Phase

1st Phase

© RoVorm © RoVorm

©CIIID

© RoVorm © RoVorm

44

Over the coming 30 years, Amsterdam will be developing Zuidas (the ‘SouthAxis’), a new urban district between the Amsterdam-Zuid and Buitenveldert citydistricts, in close collaboration with commercial investors. The key characteristicsof Zuidas will be high-quality office and business space and a range of attractivehousing. The district is ideally positioned with regard to Schiphol Airport, the citycentre, and the green spaces of the Amsterdamse Bos woodland park and alongthe River Amstel. The area enjoys excellent accessibility: Station Zuid/WTC, atransport hub served by buses, trams, trains and metro, stands right at its centre.Shifting the infrastructure underground by implementing the so-called ‘basementmodel’ would give the area greater cohesion and increase the building capacity.Amsterdam is in consultation with the national government about this. Expansionof the World Trade Center is now complete, and construction of the Mahler andGershwin sub-districts is in full swing.

Zuidas

Viñoly Building, architect:

Rafael Viñoly, 2004

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Tram connection to the Zuidas

(South Axis)

The future Mahlerplein, with

the Toyo Ito building on the

left an the buiding by Viñoly

on the right

Global overview of Zuidas with the ‘basement

model’(for road and rail infrastructure)

45Southeast / ArenA

The plans for the area around the Bijlmermeer station in Amsterdam’s southeas-tern expansion area were developed in close association with AmsterdamZuidoost district council, Netherlands Railways (NS), and various investors andcontractors. The Centrumgebied Zuidoost (‘Southeast Central Area’) is one of thecity’s first subsidiary centres to be developed around a multimodal public trans-port hub (Bijlmer railway station, metro and bus stops). In the 1990s, constructionof the ArenA (home stadium of Ajax football club) and the Park & Ride facilitygave an extra impulse to existing plans for this area. The ArenA, the Pathé multi-screen cinema, the Heineken Music Hall mid-sized concert venue, the Villa Arena(home and interior mall) and large-scale branches of a number of chain storesattract a public from far beyond the city. Still under development are a largerecreation and entertainment complex, high-rise office towers and apartmentblocks, and two colleges of higher education. The broad ArenA boulevard linksthe new construction with the Amsterdamse Poort shopping centre dating fromthe 1980s.

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ArenA Plaza Southeast Offices in Bullewijk Offices in Southeast

Centre Southeast with the ArenA

46 IJburg

IJburg is an archipelago where 18,000 dwellings, including approximately 6,000in the social sector, are being built for 45,000 inhabitants. The district was createdisland by island by spraying layer after layer of sand into the open water. The city council is striving to establish such a mixed residential environment thatis results in a varied population. A mix of functions is an important guiding princi-ple for IJburg. Many of the blocks on the Haveneiland (‘Harbour Island’) have aground-floor height of 3.50 m, thus providing space for businesses, offices andamenities.There will be employment for about 12,000 people. In addition there will beschools, a marina, cafés and restaurants, sports facilities, a beach and a cemetery.The first dwellings were completed in 2002 on the Haveneiland. The IJ-tram came into service in 2005, travelling to and from the Central Station in 15 minutes.

A great deal of attention was devoted to ecological aspects when designingIJburg. Nature development projects have been realized by various organizationsin order to boost the ecological value of the IJmeer freshwater lake and sur-roundings. Some of these projects counted as compensation for IJburg. TheHoeckelings Dam in front of the Waterland Coast is one of these projects.

Vuurtoreneiland (‘Lighthouse Island’) with the

Hoeckelingsdam

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Constructing the Haveneiland

(‘Harbour Island’)

Waterside living on the

Haveneiland (‘Harbour Island’)

Beach on IJburg

IJburg, 1st and 2nd phase

47The North/South Line under construction

The North/South Line is a 9.5 km metro line. It begins above ground in Amster-dam-North, proceeds under the IJ waterway and Central Station, and then forges a path beneath the water of the Damrak in two tunnels towards Zuid/WTC station, its other terminus. TheNorth/South Line will have 8 stations in all. The line re-emerges from the tunnelas it passes the A10 ring road between the Europaplein and Zuid/WTC station.The tunnelled portion is 4.2 km long. The route was decided on the basis of thetunnel boring machines following the existing street pattern, which means thatno buildings need to be demolished.When it comes into operation, planned for 2012, the new metro line is expectedto carry 160,000 passengers a day.

Cross-section of Rokin Station with car park

The North/South Line passes under Amsterdam’s

Central Station

Cross-section of Vijzelgracht Station with car park

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Buikslotermeerplein

Johan van Hasseltweg

Central Station

Rokin

Vijzelgracht

Ceintuurbaan

Europaplein

Zuid/WTC

48

AcknowledgementsInspired by the booklet ‘Oslo: A quick look at urban geography and transport systems’,which was made for the 48th World Congress 2004 organized by the International Federationof Housing and Planning

Editor and compiler: of Physical Planning Department (DRO), AmsterdamPicture editor: MusArte, Huub Glerum

Photo credits:ATCB=Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board DRO= Physical Planning Department, Amsterdam

Graphic design: RoVorm bv, AmsterdamPrinter: Spinhex bv

Although the authors have made every reasonable effort to provide accurate information, thepublisher assumes no responsibility or liability for any omissions. In the event of the source ofvisual materials being incorrect, please do not hesitate to contact the City of Amsterdam’sPhysical Planning Department (DRO).

© DRO Amsterdam 2006

More information

Physical Planning Department City of Amsterdamwww.dro.amsterdam.nl

Information Centre The Zuiderkerk for Space, Building and Housingwww.zuiderkerk.amsterdam.nl

City of Amsterdamwww.amsterdam.nl

I Amsterdamwww.iamsterdam.com

Amsterdam

Pocket Atlas

Am

sterdam

Po

cket Atlas

City of Amsterdam